Improvements in Electric Semaphores for Railways.
Year: 1889

page_text: Improvements in Electric Semaphores for Railways.
We, FREDERICK STITZEL, Electrician, CHARLES WEINEDEL, Electrician, ADOLPH
EUTLINGER, Bankor, MOSES J. SOHWARTZ, Merchant, JOHN H. EGELHOFF, Capitalist,
nd JACOB KREIGER Sr. Banker, all of the City of Lonisville in the County of
efferson and State of Kentucky, United States of America do hereby declare the
ature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
articularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to an improvement in electric semaphores for signalling rail-
oad trains, and more particularly to that class of signals adapted for use in connection
with the "block" system.
The object of our present invention is to provide an electric semaphore apparatus
which shall be simple in construction and effective in operation.
A further object is to provide an electric semaphoro apparatus which shall be
ensitivo and positive in operation and require but a small amount of battery to
operate it.
27
A further object is to construct the device that its signal blade may be made to
stop at each half revolution to impart different information according to its position,-
" safety'
said blade being entirely hid within a shield when in a vertical or
position.
A further object is to construct an electric semaphore in such a manner that a
visual blade and night signal may be operated by the same mechanisın.
A further object is to provide an electrical semaphore apparatus with a rotary
signal blade and a night signal, both of these signals being operated simultaneously
by the same mechanisin.
With these objects in view our invention consists in certain novel features of
construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter set forth and pointed out in
the claims.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is an elevation of a semaphore head partly broken away to show the
operating incchanism.
Figure 2 is an end view of the same.
Figure 3 is a view showing the arrangement of circuits.
Figures 4, and 5 are views of certain details.
A represents a suitable head mounted on a hollow post B.
Secured to one face of the head A is a frame or shield (), open at its longitudinal
edges. A bracket or journal bearing a is arranged centrally within the shield, for
the reception of one end of a shaft D, which passes through a perforation a¹ in the
head and is journaled at the opposite end in the head A.
Fixed upon the shaft D within the shield, is a visual signal blade E, which, when
in a vertical or "safety" position is enclosed in the shield C--which latter is painted
white, so that when the blade is enclosed in the shield, a white or safety signal will
be displayed.
The blade E is preferably painted red, so that when said blade is turned at right
angles to the shield, a danger signal is displayed. In this way the signal blade is
protected from the weather except at such times as the signal is at "danger," which
is generally of very short duration.
Secured upon the shaft D, within the head A, is a drum F,-to which a rope or
chain F is secured and adapted to be wound, a weight being attached to the free
end of said cord.
The disks G, G¹ are secured upon the shaft D, at points between its ends and
preferably near each other.
The disks G, G' are provided on their peripheries at diametrically opposite points,

page_text: with stops or projections, cl having beveled edges. The disks are so arranged on the
shaft that the stops c of disk G will project at right angles to the stops e' of disk G',
for a purpose explained further on.
The front and rear walls of the head A are provided with openings H, at points
below and to one side of the shaft D. These openings are filled with, preferably,
white glass, and between these two openings a lamp of any preferred construction is
located.
Journalled between the front and rear walls of the head A, is a shaft I having two
rigidly attached arms or hangers I, projecting downwardly therefrom. A frame or
holder I is secured to the free end of each arm I', for the accommodation of colored
glass plates 1, said arms or hangers being so arranged that when in a vertical
position a colored glass will be interposed between the lamp and the openings in the
head, and thus display a "danger" signal.
An arm or lever J having a cam J thereon, is pivoted to one of the arms I', and
is normally supported in a horizontal position by means of a pin J³, which projects
from the interior wall of the head A.
An arm K is secured upon the shaft D near one end, and projects therefrom in
opposite directions, said arm being made tapering toward both ends as shown in
figures 1 and 2.
The ends of arm K are adapted to engage a hook J³ formed at the free end of the
arm J, when said arm K and the signal blade are in a vertical position as hereinafter
explained.
Secured to the interior wall of the head A is a bracket L in which are journated
near their inner ends, two lovers M, M¹. The lovers M, M' are provided at one end
in rear of their pivots, with recesses d, in which rollers d' are journalled. The inner
or rear ends of the levers M, M', are arranged immediately beneath the disks G, G¹,
respectively, the stops on the periphery of the disk G being adapted to engage the
roller of lever M and tilt said lever when the latter is released,-while the projec-
tions of the disk G¹ engage the roller of the lever M' and tilt the same when it is
released.
Placed in the head at or near one end thereof, is an electro-magnet N³, which is
preferably mounted upon a stand N³. The stand N is provided at each end with
uprights N, which project somewhat above the tops of the cores of the magnets and
are provided at their upper ends with perforations for the reception of screws or pins,
that serve as bearings for a shaft No. This shaft is provided with a flat under face
immediately over the magnet poles, for the reception of a soft iron armature No, the
longitudinal edge of which projects beyond the shaft, and by means of which the
shaft is given an oscillatory movement in one direction, through the medium of
magnet N. When the magnets are demagnetized the armaturo is of course released
and the shaft is caused to oscillate in the reverse direction by means of an adjustable
weight N', on an arm N, projecting from the shaft N' in the opposite direction from
the armature N°. A yoke N is secured at its ends to the uprights N, upon which
the arm N* is adapted to fall, and thus form a stop for said arm to limit the upward
movement of the armature No.
At a point on the shaft N beyond the magnet, a notch e is made in said shaft,
which, when the armature N is attracted by the magnet will permit the passage
through it of the free end of the lever M. When the armature is. released and the
shaft has been oscillated in the reverse direction, the notch e will have moved out of
alignment with the free end of the lever M and said lever will be retained in a fixed
position by engagement with the shaft N, until the magnet shall have again attracted
its armature.
The free end of the lever M may be furnished with a downwardly extending curved
armadapted to pass through the notch e, and thus guide the movements of the
lever M. The downwardly extending arm is provided at its upper end with a bend
or notch e adapted to receive a small bont armes projecting from the shaft N',-and
thus afford additional security against the upward movement of the arm or lever M,
when the armature is released.

page_text: The arm or lever M as well as the lever M³, rest, when in their normal positions,
upon a bracket f', fixed to the interior of the head A.
The free end of the lever M' may be furnished with a cross army which is adapted
to pass through a notch g' in the shaft N and is maintained in a normal downward
position by means of an upwardly extending arm g' secured to and projecting from
the shaft N. When, however, the armature is released and the shaft No permitted
to oscillate, the arm moves out of the path of the free end of the lever M and thus
permits said lever to perform its function.
A comparatively small battery O will be provided at one end of the block of railroad,
having its respective poles connected with the rails h, ' of the track.
At the opposite end of the block one of the rails is connected by a wire ' with one
end of the helix of a main semaphore magnet N'. The other extremity of said helix
is connected by wire h³ with one end of the helix of a relay magnet, the other end
of the helix of relay magnet h', is connected with the other rail of the track,―thus
maintaining the seinaphore magnet N and relay * at one end of the block, normally
in a closed circuit. One end of the helix of the semaphore magnet at the opposite end
of the block is connected by a line wire i, with the armature of the relay the other
end of said helix being connected with the contact post of the relay, by means of
a line wire, which passes through a battery. By this arrangement of circuits the
instruments at both ends of a block are in normally closed circuits, adapted to be
operated simultaneously by the occupancy of the track of the block by a train of cars.
It is evident that other arrangements of circuits may be employed for operating my
improved semaphores without departing from the spirit of our invention.
The semaphore apparatus being constructed and electrically connected in circuit as
above described, operates in the manner now to be explained.
If a train enters the block from either direction, the wheels and axles of the train
bridging the rails, will short-circuit the battery O, and cause the signal blade and
night signal of both apparatus to fall to danger and to so remain as long as the block
is occupied by the train.
The battery O being short-circuited the magnets of both semaphores are con-
sequently demagnetized. The armatures N being thus released the shafts No will
rock and bring the notches e out of line with the levers M and thus cause said levers
to be locked. At the same time the arms g projecting from the shafts N will move
out of the paths of the levers M' and thus release said levers. The lever M¹ of each
apparatus, being now free, the engagement of one of the pins c', of the disk G¹, will
tilt said lever and ride over its roller d'-after which the lever will fall to its normal
position by gravity. This movement of parts will be caused by the rotation of the
shaft D by the weight F³.
The shaft D and attached devices continue to rotate until a stop c on the wheel G
comes into contact with the roller d', of lever M,- which, being locked, prevents the
further rotation of the shaft D. During this movement of the shaft etc. (which is
one-fourth revolution) the colored signal blade E will have been turned from a vertical
or "safety" position to a horizontal position, thus denoting danger.
At the beginning of the movements above described, one end of the double pointed
arm K, held the hanger I' out of line with the openings H, of the head A, by engage-
iment with the hooked end of the lever J. When the shafts begin to rotate, the arın K
pulls the arm J further rearwardly and caused the cam projection to engage the pin J'
and thus raise said arm J sufficiently to disengage its free hooked end from the arm K.
The arm J being thus released the hangers containing the colored glass are
permitted to swing in alignment with the openings H of the head A, and produce a
danger signal to be used at night.
When the train leaves the block the circuits are established as above explained and
the magnets of the semaphores at both ends of the block energized and caused to
attract their armatures. As soon as the magnets N' become again energized the
armature No will be attracted and shaft N° rotated. This movement of the shaft will
bring the notch e in said shaft in alignment with the free end of lever. M and thus
render said lever capable of being raised. This movement of the shaft N' will also

page_text: move the arm g³ into the path of the lever M' and thus prevent said lever from rising
as long as the magnets remain energized.
The main shaft D has a tendency at all times to rotate in one direction, through
the medium of the weighted rope or chain F¹, and consequently as soon as the
lever M is released one of the stops or projections c on the periphery of disk G
will tilt said lever and ride past the roller in the end thereof, after which the
lever G will fall to its normal position by gravity. The shaft D will continue its
rotation (carrying with it the signal blade E) until one of the stops c on the
periphery of disk Gengages the roller in the end of the lever M', at which time
the signal blade E will have assumed a vertical position within the shield, denoting
safety.
As the lever M is prevented from tilting, by engagement of its free end with
the arm on shaft N, the shaft D and the parts carried thereby will be brought
to a standstill.
As shaft D of each apparatus makes a quarter revolution, one end of the pointed
arm K, will engage the hooked end of arm J and oscillate the hangers I back-
wardly, out of alignment with the openings E, of the head, thus removing the
colored or danger light and displaying the white or safety light.
It will be perceived from the above description that the shaft which carries the
blade rotates always in the same direction, being stopped at onch quarter revolution
to cause either a danger, or a safety signal to be displayed, as the case may be.
It is also apparent that but very little current will be required to operate the device,
compared with what has been required to operate prior devices of this kind.
With the device constructed and arranged as herein set forth it will be seen
that both a "
"
visual blade
or day signal" and a lantern" or "night signal
are provided, to indicate "safety" or danger" that both are operated simulta-
neously, and that the signal blade is protected from the weather, when in the safety
position.
"
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"
"
The device comprises comparatively few parts; is simple in construction and
effective in operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is,
1. In a semaphore, the combination with a head having openings in the opposing
walls for the emanation of light, and a lamp in said head, of a revoluble shaft
mounted in the head, a visual signal blade carried by the shaft, vibrating hangers
carrying colored transparent material adapted to be interposed between the lamp and
openings in the opposing walls of the head, a motor, and devices for controlling the
operation of the motor whereby the shaft may be stopped and released and both
siguals caused to display "safety" or "danger," substantially as sot forth.
2. In a semaphore, the combination with a head, of a revolving shaft mounted
therein, a signal blade fixed to said shaft, a motor to rotate the shaft, disks carrying
stops, secured to the shaft, a pivoted lever in proximity to each disk and in line with
the stops thereon, and an electro-magnetic device for controlling the operation of
said levers, substantially as set forth.
3. In a semaphore, the combination with a bead, of a revoluble shaft mounted
therein, a signal blade fixed to said shaft, a motor for rotating said shaft, disks fixed
to the shaft, stops projecting from the peripheries of the disks at diametrically
opposite points, the stops of one disk projecting in a direction at right angles
to those of the other disk, pivoted levers in the paths of said stops, and electro-
magnetic devices for controlling the operation of the levers, substantially as set
forth.
4. In a semaphore, the combination with a head, of a revoluble shaft mounted
therein, a signal blade fixed to said shaft, a motor for revolving the shaft, two disks
on the shaft, stops projecting from the disks, the stops on one disk projecting at right
angles to the stops on the other disk, a lever pivoted in the path of the stops of each

page_text: disk, and devices for releasing the levers to release the disks alternately, substantially
as set forth.
5. In a semaphore, the combination with a head, of a shaft mounted therein and
carrying a signal blade, a motor for rotating said shaft, disks fixed to the shaft and
provided with stops, a pivoted lover for each disk, a roller in each lever with which
said stops engage, and means for releasing the levers to release the disks alternately,
substantially as set forth.
6. In a semaphore, the combination with a head, of a revoluble shaft mounted
therein, a signal blade carried thereby, a drum secured on the shaft, a weighted
cord attached to said drum, two disks secured upon the shaft, stops projecting from
the disks, a lever in the path of the stops of each disk, and devices for controlling the
operation of said levers, substantially as set forth.
7. In a semaphore, the combination with a head, of a rovoluble shaft mounted
therein, a motor for rotating said shaft, disks carried by the shaft, stops projecting
from the disks, pivoted levers with which said stops engage, an electro-magnet, an
armature therefor carried by a shaft, said shaft being so arranged relatively to the
pivoted levers that said levers shall be released alternately as the shaft oscillates, sub-
stantially as set forth.
8. In a semaphore, the combination with a bead, of a revoluble shaft mounted
therein, a motor for revolving said shaft, disks carried by the shaft, stops projecting
from the disks, pivoted levers with which the stops engage, an electro-magnet, an
armature therefor carried by an oscillatory shaft, said shaft being provided with a
notch to receive the end of one pivoted lever and an arm on said shaft to engage the
other pivoted lever, whereby the pivoted levers are released and locked alternately as
the shaft oscillates, substantially as set forth.
9. In a semaphore, the combination with a head having openings for the emanation
of light, of a revoluble shaft mounted therein, devices for periodically rotating said
disk, vibratory hangers pivoted in the head and carrying plates of colored transparent
material, an arm pivoted to said hangers, and an arm on the shaft to engage the arm
of the hangers to hold the hangers out of line of the openings in the head, substantially
as set forth.
10. In a semaphore, the combination with a head having openings for the emanation
of light, of a revoluble shaft mounted therein, devices for periodically rotating said
shaft, a pivoted hanger carrying a plate of colored material, an arm pivoted to
said hanger, an arm on the shaft to engage the arm on the hangers, a cam on
the latter arm and a pin in the head, whereby a continued movement of the
arm on the shaft will cause the hangers to be released, substantially as set forth.
11. In a semaphore, the combination with a head having light emanating openings,
of a shaft journoled therein, a signal blade carried by the shaft, two disks also carried
by the shaft, stops on the peripheries of said disks, a pivoted lever in proximity to
each disk and in line with the stops thereof, devices for releasing the levers alter-
nately, a pivoted hanger carrying plates of colored transparent material, an arm
projecting from the shaft and an arm pivoted at one end to the hanger and adapted
to engage the arm on the shaft, at its other end, substantially as set forth.
Tinted this 14th day of Doomha
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.