Improvements in Compensating Apparatus for Imparting the required Tension to the Wires of Railway and other Signals.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in Compensating Apparatus for Imparting the
required Tension to the Wires of Railway and other Signals.
I MATTHEW BAINES of North Allerton in the County of York, District Super-
intendent of Permanent way, do hereby declare the nature of said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPENSATING APPARATUS FOR IMPARTING THE REQUIRED
TENSION TO THE WIRES OF RAILWAY AND OTHER SIGNALS" to be as follows :-
The object of my invention is to compensate for the expansion and contraction
of railway and other signal wires, by keeping such wires at all times, in such a
state of tension, as to enable a correct signal to be given in all temperatures and
variations in the atmosphere.
The lever which actuates the signal is connected by an elbow-jointed arm to a
shaft carried on suitable bracket. At the elbow of such arm is mounted a chain
wheel, and a pinion.
When the vertical side of the elbow-jointed arm is raised by the movement of
the lever which actuates the signal, the pinion is brought into gear with a segment
of a rack attached to or provided on the hereinbefore mentioned bracket.
Within the bracket is provided. a pulley and over this and the chain pulley is
passed a chain connected at one end to signal wire and having a suspended weight
at the other.
This arrangement of chain-and weight gives the required tension to the wire for
a considerable length thereof, sufficient, for when the signal is not in operation, and
when the signal is in its normal position,. the pinion being out of gear with the
rack segment, the pulleys and weight are free to move up and down in accordance
with the expansion and contraction of the wire.
As the signal lever is brought into operation it lifts the vertical side of the elbow
bringing into gear the pinion with the rack segment, and by continuing the lift
the pinion and the chain wheel to which it is attached are caused b. revolve
giving motion to the chain, which has the effect of imparting a greater degree of
tension to the wire through its whole length. Thus by the combined action of the
suspended weight and rotary motion of the chain pulley, correct signalling is at all.
times ensured.
Dated this 19th day of auch 100°

page_text: state of tension as to envio a correct sign
variations in the atmosphere.
DESCRIPTION OF Drawings.
Figs. 1 and 2 are side elevations and Fig. 3 a sectional plan through A B Fig. 2 1
shewing my improvements and mode of applying the same."
The lever a through which the signal is actuated is connected by an elbow
jointed arm b to a shaft c carried on suitable brackets d or d. At the elbow e of
such arm b is mounted a chain wheelf and pinion g so as to work freely.
When the vertical side of the elbow jointed arm 6 is raised by the movement of 1
the lever a the pinion g is brought into gear with a rack segment h attached to or
provided on the hereinbefore mentioned bracket d or d¹.
Within the bracket dor d' is provided a pulley i and over it and the chain
pulley is passed a chain j connected at one end k to the signal wire and having a
Buspended weight 7 at the other.
This arrangement of chain j and weight give the required tension to wire when
the pinion g is out of gear with the rack seginent h and the pulleys f and i and
weight are free to move up and down with the expansion and contraction of the
wire.
As the signal lever a is brought into operation it lifts the vertical side of the
elbow jointed arm b bringing into gear the pinion g with the rack segment h, and
by continuing the lift the pinion g and the chain wheel f to which it is attached
are caused to revolve giving motion to the chain ; which has the effect of
imparting a greater degree of tension to the wire throughout its whole length,
thus by the combined action of the suspended weight and the rotary motion
given to the chain pulley f by rack segment h_correct signalling is at all times
insured.
The vertical side of the elbow jointed arm b is made adjustable in its length at m
so as to be adaptable to the position of the lever a.

page_text: 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
The arrangement, construction and combination of the various parts forming the
apparatus for imparting the required tension to the wires of railway and other
signals, and the means employed for operating the same, substantially as herein
set forth.
Dated this 10th d
J. W. HARDING,
Agent.