US83563A - Improvement in station-indicators - Google Patents

Description

ELIHU SPENCER, or OTTAWA, CANA-DA.

Letters Patent No. 83,563, dated October 27, 1868. I

vIMPROVEMIEINI IN STATION-INDICATORS.

vThe Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom, Iit ma/y concern Be it known that IELIHU SrnNonR, of Ottawa, in the Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Station-Indicators for IRailways; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and 'exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings,.forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in station-indicators 'for railways, which improvements are more especially applicable to an implement for the above purpose which was patented by me, December 3l,- 1867.

The presentinvention consists in the application of a bell to the device, sov arranged that it will be automatcally sounded each time the ydevice isl operated after leaving each station, to exhibit the name of a succeeding station.

The invention also consists in the application of a stop to the device, toprevent the latter being casually turnedV or moved in the wrong directionby the brake- ,manor other attendant.

The invention also consists in a modification of the construction 'of the device, whereby'a candle or lamp' may be applied to illuminate the names of the stations, so that they will be equally as discernible vat night asduring the'day.

The invention consists, finally, in a peculiar application of cards to the front of the device, whereby passengers may be notified where they are required to change cars, the stations where refreshments may be taken, 8vo., Sto.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings- Figure l is a front view of my invention, partly in section.. Y

Figure 2, a side view of a portion of the same.

Figure 3, an enlarged and detached plan or top View of the bell-hammermechanism.

Figure 4, a transverse vertical section ofthe cardattachment, taken in theline x x, iig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding arts. p A 'represents a rectangl'ilar box, which may be of any suitable dimensions, the upper part, a,.beinga lid or cover, which is attached to the lower part, b, by hinges or joints.

In'the top part of b there is placed a shaft, on which are secured 'two hexagonal heads, B B, one ofthe journals ofthe shaft having a square formed on it, to receive a key, C, by which the shaft and its heads are turned.

A series of plates, c, connected together by links or joints, work or are fitted on the heads B B, the width of the plates being equal to the length of the sides of the heads. These plates c' may be constructed of tinned plates, or thin `sheet-metal, and are cut out at their centres, leaving alarge open space in each plate,

and these spaces are covered with muslin, or any suitwith an end, e.

able cloth or fabric, d, which is transparent or semitransparent. The names of the stations are printed or painted on these fabrics d, and by placing a candle oi lamp, D, at one side of the box A, within a suitable covering, a and having a hole in the side ofthe box for the rays of light to enter, the names of the stationsv may be seen equally as well at night as during the day, and be conspicuous from all parts of a car.

The naines of the stations are exhibited through a proper opening in the ront of the box A, and, with the exception of the perforating of the plates c, and covering the perforations with a -cloth or fabric, semitransparent, in order to render the names of the staf tions visible at night, the mechanism of this part of the device is substantially the same as in the original patented device.

To the inner surface of one end of the box A there is attached an adjustable or sliding bar, E, (see, more particularly, iig. 2,) having upright or vertical ends, c c.

By sliding this bar E either to the right or left, the ends e are made to serve as stops, and prevent the heads B fromy being turned in the wrong direction, in consequence of proj ections, f, on the heads coming in contact One end, e, of the bar can only be adjusted in line with the projections f at once, and hence the heads B may always be turned in one direction,

and, by properly adjusting the bar E, only in the right l direction. l It will be understood, of course, that the movement of the heads is reversed at the commencement of each route from, that of the previous route.

F is a bell, which is placed onthe top of the box A. This bell is struck by two hammers, G G, the rods Lg of which are attach ed to right-angular plates H Hfthe latter'fworking on pivots, h, and havin the ends of aspring, I, in contact with them. (See g. 3.)

This spring I may be constructed of a .single rod, bent around a pin,`i, in a frame, K, in the upper part of the lid of the box A, and inwhioh-'frame a lever," K',

is fitted, said lever having its fulcrum at j. The innerJ edges oi' the plates H H are formed with notches, to receive the outer parts of the `springs I.

The long arm of the lever Kis .actuated by projectionsl,v on one of th'esheads B, and the short arm of said lever acts against one of the plates H, the movement of which is resisted by the spring I, and when the projection l of the head has passed the-long arm of the lever K', the spring I forcesthe lever back to its original position, and the hammer G against the bell, producing the necessary sound. N y Y It will b e seen that this bell-striking mechanism is a duplex or double one. This is necessary, order that the lever K' may be operated in either direction, so that the bell may be sounded when'the heads B are turned in either direction.

To the front side of the box Althere is attached a horizontal rod, on which a series of naps, L, is fitted, and allowed to swing freely, the iiaps being attached by hinges or jonts to therod. These flaps have a tendency to hang down, by their` own gravity, and on' their imier sides'or surfaces the instructions necessary to be given the passengers in connection with any station are pasted or printed, as, for instance, l \venty minutes for dinner, Change cars, Ste., 85e.

` in order to expose or exhibit these instructions, one ila-p, in each case, is raised, and retained in a raised position by a drop-catch, M. (See iig. 4.)

Having thus described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure -by Letters Patent, is-

1. The cutting out or otherwise constructing the plates c, so as to form frames, over 0r on which a transparent or` scmitransparent fabric, d, is secured, having the naines of the stations upon them, in 'combination with a candle. lamp, or other light D, placed at one side of the box A,auda1=rangcd so as totnrow the rays of light within the saine, substantially as und for the purpose specified.

2. The adjustable or sliding bar or stop E, arranged and applied in the manner substantially as and furthe purpose set forth.

3. The bell-operating mechanism, composed of the lever K', spring I, right-angular plates H H,audlia1u lners G G, all arranged to operate by the turning of the hc'ads B, substantially and for the purpose specified.

4. The iiaps L, when applied to the box A, and used in connection with the drop-eatelulYI, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

l ELIHU SPENCER.

Witnesses:

WM. F. MCNAMARA, ALELF. Ronn'rs.

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