Improvements in or relating to Signal Lamps.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 28th July, 1900-Accepted, 29th Dec., 1900
Improvements in or relating to Signal Lamps.
I, THOMAS GOLDIE, Engine Driver, of 2, Farnham Road, South Shields, in the
County of Durham, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to signal lamps and has special reference to those employed
with the semaphore system for signalling at night.
The invention has been chiefly devised for railway use with the object of
rendering the position of the semaphore arm clearly visible at night thereby
making it easy to distinguish home and like signals and distant signals, which
signals at present are seen at night only with the greatest difficulty if seen at
all.
66
The invention consists in providing the lamp, in addition to the main glass
covered aperture, with one or more subsidiary glass covered apertures for casting
light upon the semaphore arm when in the "danger' or all right" position,
the subsidiary aperture or apertures being controlled by a shutter or the like
operated by, or simultaneously with, the said arm or a part connecting therewith.
According to one way of carrying my invention into practice, I make in a
side of an ordinary lamp two openings into each of which I fit a glass or lens.
The lamp is located on the signal post and the openings are arranged one above
the other so that the rays of light from the burner pass through the upper open-
ing to illuminate the arm in the "danger" position, and through the other to
illuminate the arm in the "all right" position. Only one subsidiary light is
intended to be exhibited at a time and for this purpose I provide a shutter or disc
which is conveniently arranged and operated by the signal arm or connections
and adapted to cut off the illumination at the lower glass or lens when the signal
is standing at "danger," but when the signal is at all right" to open the lower
opening and close the upper one.
To prevent the glasses or lenses getting obscured or dirty as in snowy weather
I attach to the shutter a brush or the like for removing any such impediment
when the signal is operated, or, the shutter may be disposed to answer the same
purpose by being fitted closely to the faces of the glasses or lenses.
In connection with my improved lamp I recommend the painting of the front
side of the distant signal arm some distinct colour, for instance blue, and the
fitting of like tinted glasses or lenses in the side openings, whereas, I prefer to
employ home signals coloured as at present in conjunction with clear glasses or
lenses, hence it will be apparent that the distinction thus set up will further
prevent errors.
As will be understood, the main light acts, and is controlled as usual.
To meet particular cases, the subsidiary lights may be disposed at both sides
of the lamp; and though I have specially described the application of my inven-

page_text: tion to railway signalling, yet, as will be obvious, it is equally applicable to other
semaphore systems.
Dated this 28th day of September 1899.
Posignal Lamps.
I, THOMAS GOLDIE, Engine Driver, of 2, Farnham Road, South Shields, in the
County of Durham, 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:―
My invention relates to signal lamps and has special reference to those employed
with the semaphore system for signalling at night.
The invention has been chiefly devised for railway use with the object of
rendering the position of the semaphore arm clearly visible at night, thereby
making it easy to distinguish "home" and like signals and distant" signals,
which signals at present are seen at night only, with the greatest difficulty, if
seen at all.
66
"
The invention consists in providing the lamp, in addition to the main glass
covered aperture, with one or more subsidiary glass covered apertures for casting
fight upon the semaphore arm when in the danger" or "all right or signal-
ling position, the subsidiary aperture or apertures being controlled by a shutter
or the like operated by, or simultaneously with, the said arm or a part connect-
ing therewith.
26
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will now describe it in
reference to the accompanying drawings which, by way of example, represent its
application to railway signalling, Fig. 1 being a side elevation of the upper
portion of a signal post having upon it a "home" or starting" signal arm
shown in the "all right" position, and a distant" signal arm below it shown
in the "danger" position; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a
plan on the line x-x in Fig. 1; and Figs. 4 and 5 are a detail sectional plan and
à side elevation respectively of a lamp, slightly modified as regards that repre-
sented in the other figures. For the sake of clearness, the three latter figures
are drawn to a larger scale than the others.
I will first refer to Figs. 1 to 3, and in them A indicates the signal post, B the
"home"
or like signal or signal arm, 6 its pivot, b' its spectacle, and 62 its back
shield; while C designates the "distant" signal or signal arm, and c, c¹, c² its
pivot, spectacle, and back shield respectively. D, D denote the two signal lamps.
All these parts are constructed and arranged for use in the ordinary way, but in
addition to performing its usual office, each lamp, according to my invention, is
constructed to cast light upon the adjoining signal B or C for the purpose before
explained.
To this end, I make in a side of the lamp 1 two openings d, d into each of
which I fit a glass or lens. The lamp D is located on the signal post A, and
the openings à, d¹ are arranged one above the other so that the rays of light
from the burner pass through the upper opening d to illuminate the arm B or C
in the "danger' position, and through the other opening to illuminate the
arm in the "all right" position.
تو

page_text: The openings d, d may be quite distinct, as in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, or they may
merge into one another, as in Figs. 4 and 5; therefore in the former case the
glasses or lenses are separate too, while in the other they are integral.
Preferably the side plate of the lamp in which the openings d;' d₁ are made is
adapted to be detachable, as in Figs. 4 and 5, the connection at one side being
effected by a pin d² sliding in sockets on the side plate and lamp body, and at
the other by an ordinary catch d³. This permits of the easy removal of the side
for the cleaning or repair of the glasses or lenses.
To ensure the effective illumination of the arm B or C, each opening d, d' may
be surrounded by a light directing tube as indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, in which
event the glass or lens may be fitted at the mouth thereof; or, for the same
purpose, the side plate of the lamp may be fitted in a position inclined towards
the signal arms B and C, as in Figs. 4 and 5.
When oil is the illuminant, I prefer to furnish the lamp D; in addition to the
ordinary burner d', with an auxiliary burner in close proximity to the open-
ings d, d, but when gas is the illuminant I think the ordinary-burner sufficient,
though an extra burner may be used if thought fit.
4147010
Only one subsidiary light is intended to be exhibited at a time, and for this
purpose I provide a shutter or disc E which is conveniently arranged and operated
by the signal arm or connections, and adapted to cut off the illumination at the
lower opening d¹ when the signal is standing at "danger," but when the signal
is at all right" to open the lower opening and close the upper one d.
The form of shutter E and the mode of imparting the necessary movements to
it illustrated are, I have found, very suitable, but, of course, I do not limit my-
self to them, as they may take various forms. However, as shown; I make the
shutter with an aperture e corresponding in size with that of the openings d, d
with which it coincides at different times as explained, and for directing the
light I fit a reflector e¹ at the side of the aperture. The shutter E works in
guides e², which are spaced apart and fixed to the post A in front of the open-
ings d, d, and it is attached to a chain, which is led over pulleys e', e mounted
on the post A. and connected to the back shield or ². Consequently, as the
signal arm B or C is operated from the signal cabin, its movements are com-
nunicated to the shutter E to regulate the illumination in the required manner:
As shown, the guides ², e² are preferably fitted with rollers for easing the move-
ments of the shutter E. Also, the pivot bor of the signal arm B or C is
preferably cranked as illustrated so as to offer no obstruction to the passage of
light through the opening e, and if required a stay a may be fitted to support the
outer end of the pivot.
To prevent the glasses or lenses in the openings' d, d, getting obscured or dirty,
as in snowy weather, I attach to the shutter E brushes or the like e³, e, for
removing any such impediment when the signal is operated; or, the shutter E
may be disposed to answer the same purpose by being fitted closely to the faces
of the glasses or lenses.
6
"
:
In connection with my improved lamp I recommend the painting of the front
side of the distant" signal arm C some distinct colour, for instance blue or
green, and the fitting of like tinted glasses or lenses in the side openings d, d',
whereas I prefer to employ "home" or like signal arms coloured as at present
in conjunction with clear glasses or lenses, hence it will be apparent that the
distinction thus set up will further prevent errors.
To further aid distinction, I also recommend the fixing upon the arm B an
enamelled plate 63, and on the arm C a like plate for acting as reflectors, and
the making of the plate 63 circular, and the plate rectangular and providing
on the latter, by painting or otherwise, a white "fish-tail," the rest of this plate
as well as the whole of the plate 63, being of the same color as the respective
arms. Of course, these indicators may be arranged in other ways, or the usual
means may be employed.
:

page_text: When the plates 63, 3 are fitted it is not necessary to use tinted glasses or
lenses for the "distant" signals.
To meet particular cases, the subsidiary openings d, d may be disposed at
both sides of the lamp D; and though I have specially described the application
of my invention to railway signalling, yet, as will be obvious, it is equally
applicable to other semaphore systems to which it will be applied in the same or
substantially the same way as described consequently I consider specific examples
unnecessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
>
1. For employment with the semaphore, system of signalling, a signal lamp
having, in addition to the main glass covered aperture, one or more subsidiary
glass covered apertures for casting light upon the semaphore arm when in the
danger" or all right" or signalling position, substantially as described.
2. For employment with the semaphore system of signalling, a signal lamp
having, in addition to the main glass covered aperture, one or more subsidiary
glass covered apertures for casting light upon the semaphore arm when in the
danger" or all right" or signalling position, the subsidiary aperture or aper-
tures being controlled by a shutter or the like operated by or simultaneously with
the said arm or a part connecting therewith, substantially as described.
"
6
3. For employment with the semaphore system of signalling, a signal lamp
having, in addition to the main glass covered aperture, one or more subsidiary
glass covered apertures for casting light upon the semaphore arm when in the
danger" or "all right" or signalling position, and having combined therewith
a shutter or the like for controlling the illumination at the aperture or aper-
tures and arranged to be operated simultaneously with the arm, substantially as
described.
4. For employment with the semaphore system of signalling, the use in com-
bination with a signal lamp having a subsidiary aperture or apertures for illu-
minating the signal arm, of a shutter or the like arranged and operated substan-
tially as herein before described, and for the purpose set forth.
5. The combination of parts, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown
in the accompanying drawings, constituting my improvements in or relating to
signal lamps, specially those employed with the semaphore system of signalling.
Dated this 27th day of July 1900.
For the Applicant.
J. A. HARVEY,
Chartered Patent Agent, 3, St. Nicholas' Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
J. A. HARVEY,
Chartered Patent Agent, 3, St. Nicholas' Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne.