Patent GB-190108075-A (GB)
Title: An Improved Automatic Railway Fog Signalling Apparatus.
Inventor: ALLISON CHARLES ARTHUR
Filed: 1901-04-19
Granted: 1901-10-19
Abstract: 8075. Allison, C. A., [Froom, H. A.]. April 19. Fog and audible signals ; signalling &c. between trains ; contacts, electric.-The deionators, which are preferably of the duplex type and provided with shorter rail clips than usual, are supplied singly from the feeder M to the arm or chute A, which is rotated on its pivot A', and at the same time depressed at its outer end by the guide-bar K engaging the rollers k on the revoluble head A<1> of the arm, to bring the detonator into position on the rail. When the detonator is in position, the sliding rod H is operated by an incline on the frame to open the lateral jaws I and release the detonator. The rod H also, by means of the links j, causes the arms J, J<1> to clip the detonator on the rail. The supply of the detonators from the feeder M is controlled by a forked lever arm N, which is operated, at the proper moment to release a detonator, by an incline on the arm A. The movement of the detonators through the arm A is facilitated by the endless belt F, carried by rollers f, the upper one of which is driven by gearing f<1>, G from the motor mechanism of the apparatus. A second revoluble arm B is provided to remove the detonators, whether used or unused, and to clear snow, obstructions, &c. from the rail. Pins are provided on the rail on both sides of the detonator, to prevent the latter from sliding when the arm B acts. The arm A is connected by a spring L to the quadrant a, through which it is moved to and from the rail by the gearing a<3>, a' driven by the spring motor C, the pinion a<1> having teeth on half its circumference only, so that it gears alternately with the upper and lower pinions a<3>. The pinion a<4>, which gears with the wheel c of the spring barrel C, is normally loose on the spindle O of the pinion a', but is connected thereto, when the electromagnet X is energized, by a pin clutch actuated by the armature x. The arm B is similarly operated from the same motor C, or from a separate motor, through the gearing b, b<1>, which is controlled by the electromagnet W. The armatures of the electromagnets X, W are provided with wheels, which, when the armatures are not attracted, engage in recesses in the pinions a', b<1>. The spring motor or motors may be wound up automatically through the wheel R by an electric motor, the circuit of which is completed when the contact T, Fig. 16, on the spindle c<1> is caused by the pin t on the barrel C to come in contact with the fixed contact-strip S, the motor circuit being broken again when the spindle c' and contact T have been rotated through the angular length of the strip S. Fig. 31 shows the connections of the electromagnets W, X with the two controlling-electromagnets V, U, and with the signal, the apparatus being operative when the armature v of the electromagnet V is in the position shown. When a train passes over the rail contact P, the armature v is reversed by the battery Z, and the apparatus is cut out, so that no action can take place until the armature is returned to its former position by the train passing over the second rail contact P'. The contacts P, P' are located at suitable distances in the rear and in advance respectively of the apparatus, and may be of the construction shown in Fig. 28, the rod p when depressed by the train closing the contacts p<1>, p<2>. If the signal is at 'safety' when the apparatus is in circuit, no action takes place, but if the signal is subsequently put to ' danger' a circuit is completed from the battery Y through the signal arm, electromagnet X, left-hand coil of the etectromagnet U, armature u (in dotted-line position), electromagnet W, and armature v, the magnets W, X being both energized, and causing the arms B, A of the apparatus to act. The armature u is also reversed to the full-line position. The arm B is geared to move faster than the arm A, so as to clear obstructions &c. from the rail before the arm A affixes the detonator. In case the armature u is in the full-line position and the signal at 'danger' when the apparatus is switched in, the armature u is reversed by a momentary shunt current from the battery Z. If the signal is moved from 'danger' to 'safety,' a circuit is completed from the battery Y through the signal arm, the right-hand coil of the electromagnet U, armature u (full - line position) electromagnet W, and armature v. The current through this circuit energizes the electromagnet W, so causing the arm B to remove the detonator from the rail, and also reverses the armature u.