Lanterns or Semaphores.
Year: 1885

page_text: Lanterns or Semaphores.
I HENRY JAMES GARDNER of Whittington Road, Bowes Park, Middlesex,
Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention communi-
cated to me from abroad by Charles Darwin Tisdale of New York, United States
of America, Electrical Engineer, to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a certain improved method of Railway Signalling
whereby the signal used is automatically carried and held to safety colour or "Line
clear" by electricity and automatically changed to danger color or "line block"
by gravity, a perfect block being ensured.
In carrying out this invention I employ either an electric lantern or semaphore
as desired, a main and local circuit, a main and local battery and a compound
auxilliary elastic rail or its equivalent attached either outside or inside and slightly
higher than the main rail, so that no train can pass over the main rail without
connecting the auxilliary and main rail thus completing the local circuit.
The lantern has a white bulls-eye with a red or other colored disc inside which
automatically changes the color of the bulls-eye from white to red or other color
(as arranged) by the passage of trains or opening of switches.
The construction of the semaphore is the same as is now used but it is arranged
so as to work automatically by the passage of trains or openings of switches.
The electric lanterns or semaphores used as signals are placed at certain distances
apart having electro-magnets and armatures to actuate them.
One or more wires (preferably one) are used for the main circuit and connect
with the said magnets and the main battery, local circuit and signals.
The local circuit extends from the said elastic rail and the ground to a magnet
armature lever and a point placed in a suitable box in any available position near
the signal to be operated by the train and in connection with the local battery and
the main circuit.
The lever is weighted at its shorter end and held by the said weight in such a
position as to keep the main circuit closed.

page_text: When the train passes over the main and auxilliary rail it automatically closes
the local circuit through the tread wheels and axle or otherwise. When the local
circuit is closed, its magnet attracts the armature thereby pulling the lever away
from the point, opening the main circuit and at the same time a relay at the other
end of the section in connection with the main circuit and another local circuit at
that end of the section.
When the main circuit is opened the electric lantern or semaphore change
respectively their color or position from safety color or line clear to danger color or
line block by the force of gravity.
When the train passes out of the section it by connection with another auxilliary
rail completes the local circuit at that end of the section and the magnet of the
relay being thus brought into action closes the main circuit thereby changing the
electric lantern or semaphore respectively in color or position to safety color or line
clear at the other end of the section by the force of electricity.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said H. J. Gardner.

page_text: Lanterns or Semaphores.
I HENRY JAMES GARDNER of Whittington Road, Bowes Park, Middlesex,
Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention which has
been communicated to me from abroad by Charles Darwin Tisdale of New York,
United States of America, Electrical Engineer, 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 a certain improved method of railway signalling
whereby the signal used is automatically carried and held to safety colour or
Line clear" by electricity and automatically changed to danger colour or "Line
blocked" by gravity, a perfect block being insured.
In carrying out this invention, I employ either a lantern in which the coloured
or signal glasses are moved by electricity, or any kind of semaphore which is
worked by electricity, a main circuit and local circuit, or circuits with batteries and
compound auxiliary elastic rails or other contacts.
This invention will be understood by reference to the annexed drawings in
which Figure 1 is a diagram of circuits, for this method of railway signalling.
One or more wires (preferably one as shown) are used for the line or main circuit
and connect with electro-magnets A of the lanterns or semaphores and main
battery B. The local circuit extends from the said auxiliary rail C and earth as
shown to a magnet armature lever D and contact point E and includes the local
battery F. The lever D has a weight G at its shorter end and is held by said
weight G in such a position as to keep the main circuit closed.
When the train passes over the main rails H, H, and auxiliary rail C it automa-
tically closes the local circuit through the wheels and axle or otherwise. When
the local circuit is closed its electro-magnet attracts the lever D thereby pulling it
away from the point E and opening the main circuit and at the same time a relay
or contact device J in connection with the main circuit and a local circuit with
battery K at the other end of the section. When the main circuit is opened the
electric lantern or semaphore changes its colour or position from safety colour or
"Line clear" to danger colour or "Line blocked being operated by the weight or
weights represented at L or in any suitable manner. When the train passes out
of the section, it by connection with another auxiliary rail or contact device M
completes the local circuit at that end of the section and the electro magnet N of
the relay being thus brought into action closes the main circuit thereby changing
the semaphore or lantern in position or colour to safety or "Line clear'
other end of the section.
" at the
Figure 2 shows a form of rail camber (in which a spring is depressed by the
wheels of the train into contact with a point on another spring) which may be
used instead of the auxiliary rail for making a circuit. A second point is provided
as shown for breaking circuit by the depression of the springs.
Figure 3 shows a modification of the method of automatic signalling adapted to
a single line of railway, arrangements being made for the passage of trains in both

page_text: directions. A semaphore a is shown at one end of the section and a lantern bat
the other, but lanterns or semaphores may be used as desired. The lantern has a
white bulls eye c and a red or other coloured disc d, pivotted at e and weighted
at f capable of being moved behind the bulls eye for the purpose of automatically
changing the light from white to red or other colour (as arranged) by the passage
of trains. It is obvious that ordinary electric switches operated by hand can be
used to work the signals where desired.
The lanterns or semaphores are carried to safety colour or "Line clear" when
the electro magnets g, g¹ respectively attract their armatures h and h¹ and to danger
colour or "Line blocked" by the weights f. f.
The armatures of the electro magnets are held up to the live points of the
relays and respectively by the electro magnets, the local circuit CC through
the coils of which (from the small batteries) D and J are always complete except at
the times when a train is passing over the auxiliary rail E in connection therewith;
the passing train breaking the local circuit C, which is shown closed on the drawing.
The train on entering the line A passes over the first auxiliary rail without affecting
the signals which are standing at "Line clear." On passing the second auxiliary
rail, which should be placed just inside the signal the circuit C of the local
battery is broken and also the main circuit M is broken at k and 7 thus releasing
the semaphores or lanterns at each end of the block and allowing them to fall to
danger." The armature contact is then held against the dead point of the relay
at by its spring m and consequently the main circuit cannot be again completed
until the train passes out of the block at the other end and completes a circuit by
means of the auxiliary rail or rails at B, or should the train go out of the block at
the same end as it entered it will signal automatically "Line clear” by means of
the auxiliary rail at A.
The switch lever n may be of any well known or suitable form and that will
only make and break circuit.
It is evident that the auxiliary rails may be arranged either to make or to break
circuit on the passing of trains without departing from this invention which is
suitable for open or closed circuits according to the situation etc. of the railway to
which it is applied. If the rails are used to form part of the circuits they must
be insulated in any suitable manner in sections as indicated on the diagrams.
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 claim is
The apparatus and its operation as hereinbefore described and shown for auto-
matically signalling on railways whereby the train signals "Line blocked" on
entering a section and "Line clear" on leaving said section.
The 30th day of June 1886.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said H. J. Gardner.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said H. J. Gardner.