IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS FOR SIGNALLING UPON AND FOR OPERATING SWITCHES, SIGNALS, AND OTHER MOVING PARTS CONNECTED WITH LINES OF RAILWAY
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Saint John Vincent Day, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Civil Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS FOR SIGNALLING UPON AND FOR OPERATING
SWITCHES, SIGNALS, AND OTHER MOVING PARTS CONNECTED WITH LINES OF
RAILWAY." A communication from abroad by Joseph Stokes Williams, of
Riverton, in the State of New Jersey, in the United States of America.
(Void by reason of the Patentee having neglected to file a Specification in
pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Saint John Vincent Day at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th January 1880.
SAINT JOHN VINCENT DAY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Civil Engineer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS FOR SIGNALLING
UPON AND FOR OPERATING SWITCHES, SIGNALS, AND OTHER MOVING PARTS CON-
NECTED WITH LINES OF RAILWAY." [A communication from abroad by Joseph
Stokes Williams, of Riverton, in the State of New Jersey, in the United States of
America.]
The said Invention relates to improvements in the apparatus or means for
signalling upon and for operating switches, signals, and other moving parts con-
nected with lines of railway.
According to the said Invention in constructing apparatus to operate and govern
the working and position of switches, crossings, and signals through the medium of
electricity and explosive materials, the igniting or exploding in a receiver is caused
to create a vacuum, and thereby cause the switch, signal, or other moveable parts
connected or combined therewith to be moved, the operation being similar to that
of a gas engine, except that the lighting or igniting of the gas or other explosive
material is effected through the medium of electricity.
In order to prevent the escape of the gas the receiver for the said gas is formed
with the orifice or orifices below the upper surface, so that the said gas does not
escape by the said orifices, and the communicating wire is led to the battery or
source of electricity into the upper part of the receiver where the gaseous compound

page_text: is sure to be. The bolts or devices for testing the position of or holding the
switches, signals, or other moveable parts may be operated through similar agencies.
The parts may operate automatically one way through the agency of springs or
weights, the normal position for the switches being safety to main line, and the
automatic devices in combination with the signals always forcing signals towards
danger; therefore if any breakage occurs with the switches they go to normal
position of main line, clear, if breakage occurs with a signal it is forced to danger,
and if there is a breakage it is impossible for the switchman to signal line clear or
give or move any conflicting signals or parts.
The receiver for the gaseous compound or other explosive material can be placed
adjacent to the switch or elsewhere, as may be desirable, provided the switch
is mounted upon rockers or rollers, as described in the Specification of a previous
Patent, No. 3692, A.D. 1878, granted to William Robert Lake as a communication
by the aforesaid Joseph Stokes Williams. There will not be any bolt necessary to
hold the switch so arranged in its proper position, but any means for testing the
position of the switch will be sufficient. It will be understood that a locking bar,
cord, or device, or devices for similar purpose can be operated in a similar manner,
or the possibility of making or breaking circuit, which renders possible the move-
ment of the switch or other moveable part, may depend upon the position of one or
more vehicles which may be passing or standing upon the line or lines. By the
proper arrangement of circuit makers and breakers in relation to the moveable
parts connected or combined in the system the desired relative working is secured,
for a system so connected may extend for a long distance (if it is desirable) on a
line of railway, and it practically becomes one machine controlled at different
places dependent upon the relative position of the parts and the proper working of
the whole. Such apparatus reduces to a minimum cost of construction and
maintenance of the interlocking apparatus, and also the labour required for the
operating and controlling of switches, crossings, signals, and other moving parts.
In constructing apparatus for signalling on the lines of railway telephonic instru-
ments are employed, which are provided with a vibrating arm, plate, or reed as a
signal, and there is provided in combination with such instrument a tube or receiver
which is susceptible of compression or extension so as to compress or rarify the air,
and thereby vibrate the arm or plate with such force as to give a distinct signal;
or the electric signal is employed in combination with the telephonic instrument,
and by the proper arrangement of bars, plates, keys, or bolts, or other devices.
Such signal devices or combination can be combined with and control, or be con-
trolled by, the moveable mechanism employed on lines of railway, such as switches,
crossings, signals, or the connections thereof.