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force the ends of the rods outwards. The bushes are sup- 

 ported on springs, as shown in Fi^, 3. The pulley, L, 

 Fi^. 1, is geared with another pulley in the interior of the 

 carriage, as shown in Fi^. 4, or on the tender. N represents 

 a disc, painted so that its motion may be readily observed, 

 and having a handle for the purpose of turning it round. 



In Fi^, 5 is shown an arrangement by which the gearing 

 of the discs may be left moderately slack, so as to avoid 

 friction when the same are only required to receive signals J 

 and the bands may be considerably tightened by the guard 

 giving additional pressure at A when he requires to com- 

 municate a signal, a spiral or other spring maintaining the 

 ordinary pressure. 



I have drawn the rods D E and F, in Fi^. 1, in order that 

 the principle may be easily understood. I, however, believe 

 that in practice it will be advantageous to substitute a tube, 

 of the form of which a section is shown in Ft^, 6, in the 

 interior of which the cross-piece, E, will slide. 



I do not consider it necessary now to specify any series of 

 signals, as it is obvious that by such torsion-rods the discs 

 may be turned to the right or to the left continuously or 

 interruptedly, so as to communicate a number of preconcerted 

 signals ; and catches may be added to the disc so as to set in 

 motion an alarum, or strike a bell. 



In Fiff. 7 are represented some of the carriages of a 

 railway train and a tender, showing the intended method of 

 attachment. 



I propose to apply the system of torsion-rods for commu- 

 nicating signals between the guards and engine-drivers of 

 railway trains, affixing the rods under the carriages ; so that 

 the rods, forming a continuous shafting, may give simultaneous 

 motion to discs or wheels placed in the guards' carriages, 

 and also to similar discs placed upon the tender or engine, 

 under the inspection of the driver ; pulleys being fixed upon 



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