US609732A - cheetham - Google Patents

Description

No. 609,732. Patented Aug. 23, I898. F. A. CHEETHAM &. R. BDSTOCK. APPARATUS FOR SIGNALING ON LOCOMOTIVES.

(Application filed Jan. 18 1898.) Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet l.

Rm: PETERS co. vnoro-umou wAsmnsmu n c No. 609,732; Pateqted Aug. 23, I898.

F. A. CHEETHAM 8|. B. BDSTOCK.

APPARATUS FOR SIGNALING 0N LOCOMOTIVES.

(Application filed Jan. 18, 1898.) (No Model.) 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 2- We mums virus :0. wow-ummmsmnmw. u/ c.

No. 609,732. Patented Aug.23, I898.

F. A. CHEETHAM G. R. BOSTOCK. APPARATUS FOR SIGNALING ON LOCOMOTIVES.

(Application filed Jan. 18, 1898.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

m: Mom-us PETERS cc. mmaumo. wnsmuomm n c.

No. 609,732. Patented Aug. 23, I898. F. CHEETHAM & n. sosmcx. APPARATUS FOR SIGNALING UN LOCOMOTIVES.

(Application filed Jan. 18 1898.) (No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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V NlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK ARTHUR CHEETHAM, OF RASTRICK, AND RALPH BOSTOCK, OF

BRIGHOUSE, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR SIGNALING ON LOCOMOTIVES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 609,732, dated. August 23, 1898.

Application filed January 18, 1898. Serial No. 667,099. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK ARTHUR CHEETHAM, residing at Rastrick, and RALPH BOSTOOK, residing at Brighouse, in the county of York, England, subjects of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Apparatus for Signaling on Locomotives, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for automatically signaling or indicating to the engineer on a locomotive-engine as to whether the road is clear or otherwise, the object being to enable the signalman from his cabin to signal to the engineer on the engine, dispensing, if desired, with the signals and semaphores (except the home signal) as now used and also obviating the use of fog-signals, as, being on the engine, the signals can be seen by the engineer whatever the state of the weather. The apparatus is equally applicable for signaling to the engineer when working or repairing gangs are on the line and so giving warning that the line is not clear. At the same time that the sig nals or semaphores on the engine are against the engineer an electric bell is caused to ring and will continue to ring until the engineer resets the signal or indicator.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation on line y y of Fig.2, showing the box containing the signals, indicaters, or semaphores which are carried on the engine. Fig. 2 is a plan on line cc of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is 'a section of Fig. 1 on line general arrangement of the apparatus. Fig. 4" is a detail of a part shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 5 is a sectional side view of the rails, showing the method of operating and controlling the plates or levers. Fig. 6 is a plan showing one of the rails and two of the plates or levers.

According to this invention we employ one, two, three, four, or any desired number of small signals, indicators, or semaphores 1 1, inclosed in a glass-fronted box 1 fixed inside the locomotive in a position easily visible to the engineer. Each signal or semaphore 1 is connected by links 2 to weighted fallers or strikers 3, free to move up and down between pillars which form slides or bearings 4. On

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical view of the the under side of each faller or striker 3 is a finger or contact-maker 5, and below each faller or striker is a recess 6, in which is anothercontact-maker 7. The weighted faller or striker 3 is by spring 8 and wire 9 connected to one pole of a small electric battery 10 on the engine, and the lower contact-maker 7 is connected by another wire to the opposite pole of the battery 10. Each of the weighted strikers or fallers 3 is provided at the back with a catch orprojection 11. Alever 12, having a corresponding catch or projection 13, engages with the catch 11 on the faller or striker 3 and holds it up. Each of the levers 12 is connected to a crank or arm 14 on a shaft or rod 15 by means of a connecting rod or link 16. Each shaft or rod 15 has a crank 17 on one end, which cranks are connected by pendent rods 18 and links or levers 19 to levers 20, on which are runners 21, free to pivot in the bracket 22, fixed to the under side of the locomotive.

Between the rails forming the permanent way are three or four plates or levers 24, preferably inclined at each end, one being used for each signal or semaphore 1, and each plate or lever 24 has underneath it an eccentrio 0r cam 23, by which it can be raised or lowered by the "signalman from his cabin in the ordinary manner, it being connected thereto by wires and levers and operated in the reverse direction by a weighted lever 25, as usual.

If the signalman lowers one of the plates or levers 24, the runners 21 on the engine will clear the plate and no change of the signal takes place; but if the plate or lever 24 is raised then one of the runners 21, coming into contact therewith, willbe raised and will pull down the pendent rod 18, and the lever 12 will release the faller or striker 3, which falls and completes the circuit of the battery and causes a bell to commence ringing, and the faller 3, being connected by links 2 to a semaphore 1, will at the same time raise the latter and indicate to the driver inthe usual manner. signal is, reset by the driver raising the weighted faller 3 by moving the hand-lever 26 and giving a partialturn to the rod 27, on which are arms 28, connected by slotted links The bell will continue to ring until the l 29 on the tops of the strikers This raises all the strikers which may be down, but those that are up are not moved, as the arms 28 move up the slots in the link 29. The catch-levers 12 are pulled toward the strikers 3 to catch and hold them up by means of spiral springs 30, one being connected to each lever 12.

There is one. signal for the home signal and two for the distance-signal, so that the latter is shown on or off, as the-case may bet'. a, if the signalman wishes to signal all clear at the distance he will pull down one lever, which will raise one of the plates to operate the distance-semaphore on the locomotive and indicate all right, or by pulling another lever in his box he will raise the plate for operating the signal or sema phore line blocked. By this means the driver will always be warned when he passes the distance-signal, and by connecting the plates by wires to anlelectric bell in the signalmans cabin and completing the circuit by the locomotive passing over same the signalman is warned that the signals are in working order and operative.

The signals or indicators may be used independently or in conjunction with the ordinary semaphores, which will be operated by the same lever and at the same time that the plates are put-into action by the Signalman, the wire or chain from the cabin being divided, so that one end passes to the ordinary semaphore and the other to the plate.

If working gangs are at work on the line, a plate or lever is secured on the permanent Way, and a warning will thus be given to the driver of every engine coming along the line, who will in turn warn the workers by whistle or otherwise.

It will be understood that there is for each indicator its separate and independent connection with its own runner beneath the locomotive and that there is an independent lever or plate for each, and the latter are laid parallel to one another, but not lineable unless for actuating the same signal. In order that the engine-driver may be checked and it ascertained that he has reset the indicators after passing such signal, the lever for reversing the indicators may be connected to. an

ordinary register or meter which registers the number of times the indicators have been reset.

What We claim is 1. In an apparatus for signaling in locomotives, the combination with a weighted faller and a semaphore connected thereto, carried by thelocomotive of means for supporting said faller; a shaft and connections for releasing said faller; a pivoted lever carried by the locomotive, connections between said lever and said shaft for operating the latter; a plate situated between the tracks, and means for operating same to bring it into contact with the pivoted lever during the travel of the locomotive, so that through the said shaft, the

faller is released and the semaphore operated; and means for raising the faller, substantially as described.

2. In apparatus for signaling on locomotives the combination with a weighted faller and a semaphore connected thereto carried by the locomotive, of means for guiding said faller, a catch-lever for holding same, a shaft for operating the catchlever, connections between said catch-lever and the shaft, a pivoted lever carried by the locomotive, connections between said lever and the shaft, a plate situated between the tracks and means for operating same to bring it in contact with the pivoted lever during the travel of the locomotive, so that through the shaft, the catchlever of the faller is removed and the semaphore operated, means for raising the faller and means for replacing the catch-lever substantially as described.

3. In apparatus for signaling on locomotives the combination with semaphores 1 carried by the locomotive of fallers 3 guides for same, means for holding and releasing the fallers, a slotted link 29 carried by each faller, a rod 27, a series of arms carried thereby engaging with the slotted links and a handle for operating the shaft to restore such fallers as have been operated substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus for signaling on locomotives, the combination with a weighted faller and a semaphore connected thereto carried by the locomotive; of means for guiding said faller; a catch-lever for holding the faller; a

shaft for operating the catch-lever, connections between said catch-lever and the shaft; devices actuated by striking an obstruction upon the track, connected to said shaft for operating the latter; a plate situated between the tracks, and means for operating the same to bring it into position to be struck by said devices upon the locomotive, whereby the catch-lever of the faller is released and the semaphore operated; means for raising the faller; and means for replacing the catchlever, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK ARTHUR OH EETI-IAM. RALPH BOSTOOK.

Witnesses:

I. B. HOWARD, GERVASE APPLEYARD.

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