IMPROVED SPEED OR STOPPAGE INDICATORS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry James Barr, of Apsley Town, East Grinstead,
in the County of Sussex, Lieutenant-General in Her Majesty's Bombay Staff
Corps, for the Invention of "IMPROVED SPEED OR STOPPAGE INDICATORS."
Sealed the 2nd July 1878, and dated the 5th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry James Barr at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th January 1878.
HENRY JAMES BARR, of Apsley Town, East Grinstead, in the County of Sussex,
Lieutenant-General in Her Majesty's Bombay Staff Corps. "IMPROVED SPEED OR
STOPPAGE INDICATORS."
This Invention relates to a means for indicating and recording the speed of a
train, vessel, or other moving body while in motion, and also the amount of time
consumed in stoppage while the same body is at rest, as, for instance, when a train
or vessel at sea is in motion the apparatus will indicate and record the rate of speed
at which it is travelling while in motion, and when the train or vessel stops the
apparatus will indicate and record the amount of time consumed in such
stoppage.
The apparatus consists of clockwork motion, which carries a ribbon of paper
between two rollers of a known regulated speed, on which ribbon of paper the
indications of speed.are made by a pencil descending on the said ribbon of paper at
stated distances, and thereby causing a series of dots; and the stoppage indications
are made by a second pencil being allowed to descend on the said ribbon of paper
when the stoppage begins, and the paper being carried along between the rollers
causes the pencil to make a long trailing mark during the continuance of the
stoppage; but when the train or other moving body is again put in motion this
last-mentioned pencil is raised off the ribbon of paper, and so the mark ceases until
the next stoppage occurs, and so on continuously.
The speed-indicating pencil, in the case of a train, is brought in contact with the
ribbon of paper by a lever, to the end of which is attached a rod or similar instru-

page_text: ment, which is acted upon by incline planes or studs placed on the sleepers at stated
distances along the line.
The stoppage-indicating pencil is kept in suspension over the ribbon of paper by
apparatus similar to the governor balls of a steam engine or other equivalent
apparatus, which while the body is in motion rotate and thereby keep the pencil off
the paper, but when the body comes to rest the governor balls or such equivalent
apparatus fall and bring the pencil down upon the paper, the ribbon of paper
moving, as above mentioned; at a known and regulated speed between the clockwork
rollers, causes the pencil to make said trailing mark.
In applying my apparatus to steam vessels at sea, I use the motion of the steam
engine for giving the number of revolutions upon the ribbon of paper, and upon the
same ribbon of paper the indications of speed are made from a stationary log
attached to the outside of the vessel, and some distance below the surface of the
water, the indications from which log are conveyed to the indicator pencil by means
of electricity.
In applying my apparatus to sailing vessels, the portion connected with the log is
alone to be used.
It will be evident that either the speed or the stoppage portion of my apparatus
may be used by itself, or both may be used together, the latter being the most
advantageous method of using the apparatus.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry James Barr in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th July
1878.
HENRY JAMES BARR, of Apsley Town, East Grinstead, in the County of Sussex,
Lieutenant-General in Her Majesty's Bombay Staff Corps. "IMPROVED SPEED OR
STOPPAGE INDICATORS."
My Invention is for the purpose of indicating and distinctly recording upon a
ribbon of paper or other material the speed per one, two, or more miles of a train in
motion, as well as that of a steam or sailing vessel when under way, and further to
record on the same ribbons or bands of papers or other material respectively all
stoppages which occur at any time and from whatever cause in the progression of
such train or vessel in which my apparatus is in use, and in the case of a steam
vessel to record also the number of revolutions made by the paddles or screw.
These records are marked upon the same ribbon or band of paper, and which receives
the speed record.
The apparatus which I use for recording the above indications of railways
throughout each journey of whatever length, is divided into several parts :-
First. Clockwork which draws a ribbon or band of paper or other material at a
known and regulated speed over a small metal table from a coil of paper carried
upon a drum or reel. This ribbon or band of paper, &c., may be previously marked
off into equal given spaces, each such space shewing the length of paper drawn
forward by the clockwork in each minute; or the paper ribbon or band may be
used plain on the drum or reel, in which case I arrange a type roller and an inking
roller which are rotated by the clockwork, and as the paper ribbon or band is
carried on between the type roller and the drum on the clockwork it is impressed
with inked or colored lines, at the required distances apart, as above explained, to
indicate minutes. The ribbon or band of paper after passing through the rollers is
delivered into a box placed close to the rollers for its reception.
The second portion of my apparatus consists of a pencil or (by preference) a punch
held in suspension over the ribbon or band of paper on the small metal table referred
to above, and at a distance of an inch or less above the paper. This pencil or punch
is acted upon by a lever from the outer end of which depends a rod of metal.
Whenever this rod is moved upwards it causes the pencil or punch to descend for a
single moment upon the paper on the metal table, and to make a dot mark (if the
pencil is used), or to cut out a small hole if the punch is used. To actuate the lever
I have just described, I affix a light rod of metal working through a wooden upright
placed below the carriage or van in which my apparatus is carried, and strongly and
rigidly stayed to the lower part of the said floor of the carriage or van; through the
wooden upright the said rod works upwards and downwards to the extent of two
or three inches, within which it is controlled by a metal pin passing through a
slotted hole in the rod referred to. The upper portion of the metal rod is connected
by an adjustable metal socket to the depending arm of the lever by thumbscrews,
and to the lower portion of the said rod I affix a small wheel or roller.
Along the line of railway I place inclined planes of wood or metal, at regular
distances of one, two, or more miles; these inclined planes are firmly bolted to the
sleepers mid-way between the rails, and in no way interfering with them, and
extend over three of the sleepers, and are made to slope in both directions from
their centres, which rise to a height of about three and a half inches above the level
of the rails.
Now, as the train advances in either direction along the line thus prepared,
when the wheel or roller above described meets one of the inclined planes, it passes
up it to the centre, forcing upwards the depending arm attached to it, and thus
causing the lever carrying the pencil or punch to descend for a moment and mark
or cut through the paper. The same thing again occurs when the carriage or van

page_text: arrives at a second and third inclined plane, and so on continuously throughout the
journey.
The number of minute spaces upon the ribbon or band of paper between any
two of such marks show the number of minutes occupied by the train in passing
from one inclined plane to the next, so that if these are one mile apart the indicating
record will show the speed per mile on it; if two miles apart, the record will
indicate the speed per two miles, and so on.
I use instead of the above-described wheel or roller, apparatus as an alternative
means of working the lever, simply a depending arm of wood or metal, carrying a
cam at its upper extremity which acts upon the lever, causing it to move upwards
and downwards in the same way and with the same effect as above described in
relation to the wheel apparatus.
Instead of the inclined plane used with the wheel apparatus, I affix at stated
intervals along the line and upon the sleepers bridges or stops made of metal; these
bridges or stops are from 5 to 6 inches in length, and rise to a height of from 3 to
3 inches.
As the carriage passes over one of these the depending arm is deflected,
and causes the cam to act upon the lever arm, so as to bring down the pencil or
punch upon the recording ribbon or band of paper. The bridges or stops are fixed
into the sleepers in the direction of their length, and thus stand across the space
between the rails.
The third part of my apparatus for railways is that by which stoppages and their
duration are indicated and recorded upon the same ribbon or band of paper as that
which receives the speed records. For this purpose I place a pencil or other means
for marking the paper ribbon or band, supported upon a light metal spring above
the metal table, at a distance of about an inch or half an inch from the paper.
Over this spring I place an instrument resembling the governor of a steam engine.
The action of this instrument is that through the means of an attachment (to be
described presently), when the train is in motion the spindle of the governor is
rotated, the balls fly outward, and the lower end of the spindle is kept in suspension
above and not pressing upon the metal spring, so that the pencil attached to the
spring is kept off the paper; when the train stops the revolving balls of the governor
collapse, and the spindle pressing upon the spring brings the pencil point down upon
the paper; and as this is constantly being drawn forward by the clockwork, the
result is that a trailing mark is made upon the recording paper ribbon or band, and
the number of minute spaces over which it extends tells exactly the duration of the
time of stoppage.
The ball governor is rotated by the action of two cogged bevel wheels, which are
moved by a cord or band passing over a grooved wheel or pulley in connection with
them, and also over a similar grooved wheel or pulley upon the moving axle of the
wheels of the carriage in which the instrument is placed. As the train moves the
rotation of the carriage which causes the ball apparatus to revolve, and the pencil
point is thus raised off the recording ribbon or band of paper.
If desired, this portion of my instrument may be modified by subsisting for the
ball apparatus a simple weight upon the free end of the spring carrying the pencil;
this weight is of sufficient size to bring the pencil point down to within about a
quarter of an inch of the paper ribbon or band. When the train is at rest no mark
is made upon the paper, but when the train is in motion the spring plays up and
down with the vibration of the carriage, and causes a dotted line upon it. In
addition to this, when the ball apparatus is not used, I place one of the inclined
planes or one of the metal bridges, according to circumstances, at the entrance of
each station, and one also at the exit from the station; the number of minute
spaces intervening between the indications caused by these two inclined planes or
the bridges will give the measure of the time during which the train was detained
at the station.
The adaptation of my Invention to steamers or sailing vessels, in order to record
their speed through the water, as well as the number of revolutions of the paddle
or screw of the former. Upon the same ribbon or band of paper I use a peculiar

page_text: kind of log, which consists of a metal cylinder open at both ends, and carrying &
core of wood, metal, ebonite, or other suitable material; this core has three or more
wings or fans, placed at such an angle with the length of the core, that as the log is
To
drawn through the water the core is rotated at a given and regulated speed.
the spindle or axle of the core are connected a train of toothed wheels, which take
action from it, and are so regulated in reference to each other that for each quarter
of a nautical mile the vessel advances the last of the train of wheels marks one
revolution. The case containing these two wheels is made water-tight, and the
connecting axle or spindle passes through a water-tight stuffing box.
The log and wheel apparatus is carried on a light metal bar or stout wire from
the gunwale of the vessel down to a point eight or ten feet below the surface of the
water, and close to the outside of the ship, in such a way as to be immoveably fixed
in position, except when it is wished to raise the instrument to the deck. A stud,
in connection through an insulated wire with an electrical recording instrument, is
so placed in regard to the train of wheels that each of the revolutions of the last of
the train completes the contact through the battery and the electric recording
instrument, and causes it to mark the ribbon or band of paper which is in con-
nection with the clock work; each such mark consequently records the completion
of quarter of a nautical mile, and the number of spaces showing minutes upon the
ribbon or band of paper included between two of such marks shows the time occupied
in completing each quarter of a nautical mile.
Attached to any portion of the machinery of the engine, which moves once for
each revolution of the paddle wheel or of the screw propeller, I place a means of
making and breaking contact upon a galvanic recording instrument, whereby each
revolution is recorded upon the same ribbon or band of paper as receives the speed
record. We thus have both the records of speed and of revolution of the paddle
wheel or screw propeller shewn upon the same ribbon or band of paper; and I so
arrange the instrument that a portion showing 5 minutes of the record paper is
visible at all times.
The instrument will record for any length of time, so long as it is supplied
with the requisite amount of paper, and that the clockwork is regularly wound up
every 24 hours, and the batteries maintained in action.
The indicating instrument can be placed in the cabin of the commanding officer,
or, if so wished, one can be so placed, and another upon deck for the information of
the officer of the watch.
For sailing vessels it will be understood that only the log apparatus will be
necessary.
My Invention is also applicable to tramway cars, to stationary engines, and other
similar purposes.
And in order that the above description of my Invention may be more clearly
understood, I have added the accompanying Drawings, showing the arrangement of
the apparatus as applied to a train.
In the Drawings,―
Fig. 1 shews the clockwork apparatus A for moving the ribbon or band of paper p,
in which d is the roller for carrying the ribbon or band of paper e, the metal table f,
the drum moved by the clockwork g, the type roller for marking the paper into
minute spaces h, the inking roller for inking the type roller, and i, the tin box to
receive the paper. The lever apparatus B for recording speed, which is actuated at
its outer or lower end by the wheel apparatus below the carriage, and at the other
end actuates the punch or pencil c which records the speed on the ribbon or band
of paper. The governor apparatus C for recording stoppages, and which actuates
the spring a carrying the pencil b for recording the stoppages on the ribbon or band
of paper p.
The grooved wheel or pulley D, rotated by a band passing over it and
a similar pulley upon the axle of the carriage, and driving the governor when the
train moves, and so allowing the spring a to raise the pencil b clear of the ribbon or
band of paper p. And the metal socket E, with adjusting thumbscrews to fix the

page_text: outer end of the lever apparatus B to the rod of the wheel apparatus below the
carriage or van.
Figure 2 shews the wheel apparatus F, which is fixed under the carriage or van,
so that the wheel k, at the lower end of the rod 7, will come in contact with inclined
planes fixed to the sleepers at known distances, and so actuate the lever
apparatus.
"
Fig. 3 shows an alternative means of actuating the lever apparatus, in which A is
a sliding bar of metal, with a circular part u, acted upon by a double cam B, which
has two friction rollers b. Passing through the sliding bar A are two upright guide
rods C, fixed to the floor D of the carriage or van. The double cam B works upon
a pin P, and is actuated by the depending metal arm E, which comes into contact
with and is deflected by the bridges or stops F fixed to the sleepers G and standing
a few inches above the level of the rails H. The end of the depending arm I of the
lever apparatus, carrying the pencil or punch for recording speed is connected to
the sliding bar A by the pin K.
Having thus described the nature and object of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is or may be carried into effect, I declare that what I claim and
desire to be secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent-
i8,-
First. The improved speed or stoppage indicator, substantially as herein-before
described, and shewn on Drawings.
And, Second. The combination of mechanism and apparatus for indicating and
recording the speed of a train, vessel, or other moving body while in motion, and
also the amount of time consumed in stoppage while the same body is at rest,
substantially as herein-before described, and shewn on the Drawings, or any mere
modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry James Barr, have hereunto set my
hand, this Third day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
HENRY JAMES BARR. (LS.)