IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL SIGNALLING APPARATUS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William John Brewer, of 23 Rood Lane, in the City of
London, Civil Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL
SIGNALLING APPARATUS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION ieft by the said William, John Brewer at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th March 1883.
WILLIAM JOHN BREWER, of 23 Rood Lane, in the City of London, Civil
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL SIGNALLING APPARATUS"
My invention relates to signalling apparatus operated by electricity, and is
designed to give audible notice to the engine driver of the position of the ordinary
semaphore or other signals, and to give audible or visible indication to the signalman
of the passage of the trains. These intercommunications will be found exceedingly
valuable in foggy weather.
To give warning to the engine-driver of his approach to a signal-post, I cause a
bell or gong to be sounded electrically upon the foot plates of the engine, when the
latter is at a suitable distance away from and before reaching the signal post.
I effect this by laying between the rails a length of electrically insulated rail,
bar, or metal rope, at a suitable distance away from and in advance of a signal
post.
The engine or other van or carriage in the train is provided with a hanging
metal tail piece terminating in a metal brush or roller, so situated and of such a
length as to come in contact with the insulated centre rail, bar, or metal rope.
The tail-piece is electrically insulated from the framing of the engine or other
van or carriage, and is electrically connected to a sounding bell or gong, and an
indicating device if desired, on the foot plates of the engine, or within the van or
carriage.
From the bell and other device the electrical circuit is carried anywhere to the
iron framing, and thence through the wheels to the bearing rails.
The aforesaid insulated rail, bar, or metal rope, is connected to one pole of a
galvanic battery or series of batteries within the signal box.

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When the tail piece of the engine or other van makes contact with the insulated
rail, bar, or rope, the current passes through the bell and other indicating device,
on the foot plates or within the van, and thence passes back conveniently through
one of.the bearing rails to the signal box.
Before returning to the other pole of the battery the circuit may pass, in the
signal box, through another ringing bell, a finger lever instrument, or switch,
automatically operated by the signal lever, to make and break circuit when
desired, and through any suitable indicating device, such as a coloured card or flag,
which may be operated either to vibrate or become obscured by the completion of
the electrical circuit. When, then, the switch or finger lever in the signal box is
closed or pegged down, or the movement of the signal lever to danger has prepared
the circuit, so soon as the engine or train enters on the insulated rail the electrical
circuit is completed, and audible and visible warning is giving both in the signal
box and on the foot-plates of the engine, or within the van.
If desired, the insulated rail, rod, or metal rope, can be made of sufficient length
to maintain contact, for some time, with a moving or stopping train, and in such
case a code of signals may be exchanged between the driver and signal-man by
means of the finger lever instruments introduced in the circuit as described
I also adapt and fix to the signal post an electrically ringing bell, placed in
circuit from the signal box by the usual insulated wires, the circuit only being
closed when the signal is dropped to "caution" by the usual movement of the
signal lever from "danger." The ringing of the bell thus gives an audible
indication in foggy weather that the signal is "at caution," and any failure of the
circuit but temporarily stops the traffic until the driver ascertains that the signal
is at "caution."
By the arrangement of the lever to automatically close or prepare for closure
one or other of the circuits, it will be seen that the signal man has no increase of
responsibility, and at the same time a valuable aid is always given to the driver
of the position of the signals as he passes them; inasmuch as one or other circuit
must always be closed by the movement of the lever.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William John Brewer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th September 1883.
WILLIAM JOHN. BREWER, of 23 Rood Lane, in the City of London, Civil
Engineer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL SIGNALLING APPARATUS"
My invention relates to signalling apparatus operated by electricity, and is
designed to give audible notice to the Engine driver of the position of the ordinary
semaphore or other signals, to give audible or visible indications to the signalman
of the passage of the trains, and to allow of intercommunication between the
signalman and Engine Driver at certain places. These intercommunications will
be found exceedingly valuable in foggy weather. To give warning to the Engine
driver of his approach to a signal post, I cause a bell or gong to be sounded
electrically upon the foot plates of the Engine, when the latter is at a suitable
distance away from, and before reaching, the signal post. I effect this by laying
between the rails a length of electrically insulated rail, bar, or metal rope, at a
suitable distance away from and in advance of a signal post. The Engine or other
Van or Carriage in the train is provided with a hanging metal tail piece, terminating
in a metal brush, roller, or clip, so situated and of such a length as to come in
contact with the, insulated centre rail, bar, or metal rope.
The tail piece is electrically insulated from the framing of the Engine or other
Van or Carriage, and is electrically connected to a sounding bell or gong, and an
indicating device if desired on the foot plates of the Engine, or within the Van or
Carriage. From the bell and other device the electrical circuit is carried anywhere
to the iron framing, and thence through the wheels to the bearing rails.
The aforesaid insulated rail, bar, or metal rope, is connected to one pole of a
Galvanic battery or series of batteries within the signal box or on the foot plates.
When the tailpiece of the Engine or other Van makes contact with the insulated
rail, bar, or rope, the current passes through the bell and other indicating device,
on the foot plates, or within the Van, and thence passes back, conveniently through
one of the bearing rails, to the signal box.
Before returning to the other pole of the battery the circuit may pass in the
signal box, through another ringing bell, a finger lever instrument, or switch,
automatically operated by the signal lever to make and break circuit when desired,
and through any suitable indicating device, such as a colored card or flag, which
may be operated either to vibrate or become obscured by the completion of the
electrical circuit, When, then, the switch or finger lever in the Signal box is
closed or pegged down, or the movement of the signal lever to "danger" has
prepared the circuit, so soon as the Engine or train enters on the insulated rail,
the electrical circuit is completed, and audible and visible warning is given both
in the signal box and on the foot-plates of the Engine, or within the Van, Or, the
indicating device of the signal when at danger may consist of an indicator, stop
between the rails automatically moved with the arm of the signal post, so as to
stand erect when the signal is at danger, and when in that position the stop
strikes a suitable lever projecting under the Engine, and thus completes electrical
circuit through a warning bell, on the foot plates.
The roller or other rubbing contact arm, whose office is to touch the central rail,
may be fitted to a lever on the foot plates of the Engine, so that it can be lifted
out of the way by the Driver when not required for use.
If desired, the insulated rail, rod, or metal rope, can be made of sufficient length
to maintain contact; for some time, with a moving or stopping train, and in such
case a code of signals may be exchanged between the driver and signal man by
means of the finger lever instruments introduced in the circuit as described.
I also adapt and fix to the signal post an electrically ringing bell placed in
circuit from the signal box, or in a closed circuit with battery on the post, by the
usual insulated wires, the circuit only being closed when the signal is dropped to

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134
Caution" by the usual movement of the signal lever from "danger." The
ringing of the bell thus gives an audible indication in foggy weather, that the
signal is at "Caution," and any, failure of the circuit but temporarily stops the
traffic until the driver ascertains that the signal is at "Caution."
By the arrangement of the lever to automatically close or prepare for closure
one or other of the circuits, it will be seen that the signalman has no increase of
responsibility and at the same time a valuable aid is always given to the driver
of the position of the signals as he passes them; inasmuch as one or other circuit
must always be closed by the movement of the lever.
In order, that my Invention may be the better understood I now proceed to
describe the same with reference to the Drawings hereunto annexed and to the
letters and figures marked thereon
Figure 1. is a diagrammatic view of the Electrical circuits, appliances, and
instruments.
Figure 2. is a side elevation of the foot plates of the Engine, showing central
rail contact appliance and instruments.
Figure 3. shows end view of the locomotive with contact appliances under the
foot plates.
Figure 4. shows alternative roller and brush contact for central rail.
Figure 5. shows alternative clip contact..
Figure 6. shows end view of the roller contact and signal indicator stop.
Like Letters refer to like parts in the different views.
A. is the electrically insulated rail or bar fixed between the ordinary bearing
rails B. B. at a suitable distance away from or in advance of a signal post or signal
box.
C. is the metal tail piece or contact rod projecting below the engine or other
carriage and terminating in spring clips d. d. Figures 2. 3. and 5 or in a flanged
roller contact, Figure 4, so as to make electrical contact with the middle rail A.
The contact rod C is supported in a suitable bracket E, insulated from the framing,
to which are attached two brushes, e, e, one on each side of the contact clips or
roller, and embracing the rail if necessary, by which the central rail is kept clean,
and the bracket arms form guards to remove, obstacles from the rail. The contact
rod, C, is attached by a link and spring at its upper end to a hand lever F, by
which the driver can depress or lift the roller or clip contact rod into. or out of
contact with the central rail.
The contact rod C and its connections are electrically insulated from the framing
and electrically connected with the sounding bell or gong H (Figure 1) and thence,
when the finger, lever or button H is not depressed, through that button and the
return wire b to the framing of the Engine, and so on through the wheels to the
bearing rail B. At the extremity of the usual guard may be fitted a brush,to
keep the surface of the rails clean and so insure electrical contact between the
carrying wheels and bearing rails for the return circuit. The circuit between the
rails A and B is completed at the signal box through the wire a, the finger lever
or button h',, and, when the latter is depressed, through the battery K, and thence
through the return wire k to the bearing rail B.
When the button or lever h¹ is thus depressed in the signal box, the clip or
roller contact C, with the central insulated rail A, completes the circuit operated
by the battery K. through the sounding bell or gong Hon the foot plates of
the Engine, thus enabling the signal man to communicate with the driver.
Similarly, by the depression of the finger lever, on button upon the Engine,
the gong H is cut out of circuit, and the batteries G. G. put into circuit between
the rails A and B on the Engine, whilst the circuit at the signal box, when the
finger lever or button h¹ is not depressed, is completed through the sounding
gong H. in the signal box, cutting out the battery, K, and thus enabling the driver
on the Engine to communicate with the signal box-This foregoing arrangement
of circuits may be conveniently utilized for intercommunication between the
driver and signalman at the desire of either by the depression of either of their

page_text: finger levers or buttons h, h¹, or alternatively the Circuit may be closed in the
signal box by a suitable lever at h³, operated automatically by the ordinary signal
lever, to indicate when the signal is at "danger,"
.
But, alternatively, a separate circuit and indicating appliance and instrument
may be employed to automatically indicate that the signal is at "danger.".
This arrangement is shown diagrammatically in Figure 1, and the appliances
are shown in detail in Figs 3 and 6.
L. is a lever stop placed between the rails, and moving in concert with the arm
of the signal post, so that the armn L which is of spring steel above the joint of the
lever, stands upright when the signal is at danger.
A tail piece or bell crank M. fixed to a rocking bar m, projects with one arm
below the engine, so that it strikes the spring lever stop L. when the latter stands
perpendicularly upwards.. The movement of the bell crank M. M¹ by means of
the rod N. (Figure 2) draws down a lever O. upon a stop P-so as to close an
electrical circuit through the letters G. G. (Figure 1) and the sounding gong or
bell.Q. This gives an automatic indication to the driver, in case of fog, of the
signal being at danger. Visible indicators such as cards or arms may be used in
conjunction with the sounding gongs or bells.
After the bell crank M. M¹. has been moved by the indicator stop L., so as to
close the circuit, the bell will continue to ring until the driver again breaks the
circuit by lifting the hand lever R, thus bringing back the bell crank M. to its
normal position:
Upon the signal post is also fitted an electrical bell S, and a battery T., the
circuit through which is closed by the dropping of the arm of the signal post to
"Caution" and thus gives an audible indication in foggy weather, that the driver
may pass. Any failure of the circuit would only tend to temporarily delay the .
traffic until the driver had ascertained that the signal was at "Caution."
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my invention, and the
method of carrying the same into effect. be it known that what I consider novel
and desire to protect by Letters Patent is :-
1 The combination of an insulated rail, and a contact tail piece on an Engine
or Train, with an electrical circuit, a sounding bell or indicating device, and a
battery or batteries, and shunt, both upon the Engine and in the signal box, for
effecting intercommunication between the signalman and driver of a train
substantially as described.
2nd The combination of a lever stop moving with the signal arm with a tail piece
from the Engine, an electrical circuit, a battery and sounding bell or indicating
device thereon to give audible warning to the Engine driver of a signal at
danger" substantially as described.
4
3rd The combination with the arm of a semaphore signal post of an electrical
circuit, closed by the movement of the signal arm to "Caution," a battery and a
sounding bell, to give audible warning to an engine driver that the signal is at
"Caution" substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said William John Brewer have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Eighth day of September in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three
Witness
S. P WILDING.
23 Rood Lane, London E.C.
Patent Agent.
WILLIAM JOHN BREWER,
(L.S.)