IMPROVEMENTS IN FOG SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS OB TRAMWAYS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR.
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Keighley, of Ormskirk, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOG SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS OB
TRAMWAYS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR.'
"
Sealed the 16th March 1877, and dated the 20th September 1876.
Sealed the 16th March 1877, and dated the 20th September 1876.
"
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Keighley at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th September 1876.
IMPROVEMENTS IN
JOHN KEIGHLEY, of Ormskirk, in the County of Lancaster.
FOG SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS OR TRAMWAYS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR.
The usual method of using fog signals is to place them by hand on the rails.
This involves sending a man out to the distance signal or beyond, and takes time
where time is most important. It is to enable one to work fog signals from
the signal boxes or stations themselves that this my Invention is designed. It
consists-
1st. In a machine for and mode of placing the ordinary fog signals on the rails
and holding them there, removing them when used and substituting another
therefor.
In the machine as at present constructed, a rack worked by a pinion too and fro
in guides passes below the chamber in which the supply of fog signals are placed.
This chamber has a guiding slot in it, out of which the shanks of the fog signals
(hereafter described) project. The rack has a spring clip on the end nearest the rail,
and as this spring clip passes beneath the fog signal chamber it is pressed open by
an inclined plane. The rack being drawn back beyond the fog signal chamber a
fog signal the same thickness as the rack falls down into its place from the chamber.
The shank of the fog signal projects out exactly in an opposite direction to the rail,
being guided into that position by the slot. The rack being driven back by the
pinion the fog signal shank is caught by the open clip, which closing when out of
contact of the inclined plane holds the fog signal as in a vice. The rack is propelled
forward the length of its tether, at which point the fog signal is held directly over
the rail. After the signal has been used the rack is propelled back.
The clip when actuated by the inclined plane, opens and lets the used fog signal
drop out into a well; passing on it leaves the next fog signal room to drop into
place as before described in the case of the last signal, and it is in turn propelled

page_text: forward and placed on the rail; the fog signal itself is the same as the ordinary
one, but has a stout shank attached projecting out on one side instead of the usual
clips.
The modes of actuating the pinion shaft are innumerable and well known; it
could be caused by a spring or weight to normally take one extreme position, and
the wire connection used to draw it to the other extreme position. In such case
the normal position would be holding the fog signal over the rail.
This Invention can be adapted, not merely for railways and tramways above
ground, but for collieries and mines. In this latter case it would be worked from
the bank, and used in addition to the ordinary arrangements so as to to give warning
if the lines are blocked up ahead or an accident happened in any of the workings
or near the pit mouth.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Keighley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th March
1877.
"
JOHN KEIGHLEY, of Ormskirk, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FOG SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS OR TRAMWAYS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
The usual method of using fog signals is to place them by hand on the rails.
This involves sending a man out to the distance signal or beyond, and takes time
where time is most important. It is to enable one to work fog signals from
the signal boxes or stations themselves that this my Invention is designed. It
consists-
1st. In a machine for and mode of placing the ordinary fog signals on the rails
and holding them there, removing them when not required, or when used substi-
tuting another therefor.
In the machine as at present constructed, a horizontal bar A worked to and fro
(at right angles to the rail) in guides or on guide pulleys B, passes below the chamber
C in which the supply of fog signals D, D, are placed. This chamber is shaped,
as regards cross section, to fit the square fog signal and wedged-shaped tang, so as
to ensure their dropping fair for the spring clip, and is placed in a slanting position
for the double object of more effectually protecting the interior from wet and of
allowing its base to approach nearer the rail without the upper part being struck
by the trains. The exact minimum distance that the chamber can be placed from
the rails varies with different lines, but is usually about twenty inches, one foot
above the level of the rail. The bar A has a spring clip D¹ (shewn on a larger
scale in Fig. 5, on the end nearest the rail K of the permanent way, which end is cut
away a little in thickness at this part as shown. As the spring clip on being drawn
backwards passes beneath a fog signal in the chamber, it is pressed open by a roller
E (or a simple inclined plane would do). The bar being thus drawn back clear of
the signal chamber C, a fog signal, approximately the same thickness and width as
the bar, falls down on to a narrow ledge F on each side of the frame G. The shank
of the signal projects out in exactly opposite direction to the rail, having been
guided into that position by the shape of the chamber. The bar A which had
been previously drawn back by the rope H from the signal station in defiance of
the resistance of weight I as hereafter described, and being let go is pulled forward
by weight I. Fog signal that has fallen into position is now caught by the open
clip, which closing when out of contact with the roller E, holds the signal as in a
vice and brings it along with it till the pin J, hereafter described, comes in contact
with roller E. This stops the advance and leaves the signal held directly over the
rail K. The pin or stud J is securely fixed to the bar A and firmly rivetted to the
chain, which can be a single length from the weight I, passing the pin or stud J, and
through a notch or hole in frame G, round a guide pulley, and beyond this attached
to the signal wire from the signal post.

page_text: In actual practice I prefer to cast the frame in three pieces; the two sides and
the lid of the chamber and bottom frame are cast in one, or, rather, in two halves,
separated by the vertical centre line and joined together by bolts through flanges
or lugs; it is fastened down to wooden sleepers by means of bolts and lugs on the
frame. If desirable, a water-tight box of sheet iron for the weight to hang in and
a bottom plate can be added to keep out damp. The frame extends nearly to the
rail, as shown, and at the end nearest the rail is shaped so as to accurately fit the
signal.
The manner of action is as follows:-Two of these machines are attached to the
same wire, about 10 feet apart, at or a little beyond the distance signal post. They
are so arranged that one shall have more play than another, so that when the wire
has been pulled to caution one signal shall be in place over the rail, the other near
the rail but entirely beyond the range of contact of the passing train. By relaxing
the wire to danger, the other signal is placed on the rail. If one or both are
exploded by a passing train, the signalman draws back his lever. If the signals
are squeezed out too wide to pass the frame, they are pulled out of the clip by
coming against the mouth of the frame and fall down beside the line. If they are
blown away all but the tang or shank, the latter falls when the jaws expand on
reaching the inclined plane or roller. If, however, a signal has been withdrawn
without use, it is brought back to its old position at the base of the signal chamber.
To prevent the possibility of a signal being drawn beyond this point, I add a pair
of vertically sliding semi-cylindrical pins bevelled on the side furthest from the
rail; these stop the forward movement of the signal, but the bar slides along their
bevelled edge and raises them on its return. Hinged pawls N will do as well and
are shown in the Drawing. The "lid" of the signal chamber is hinged to two pins
in the frame and can fall back flat on to the frame so as to insert signals. It is
flanged so as to keep out the rain and can be padlocked by padlock L.
Having now described my Invention and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention under the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The mode of placing signals on the rails by means of an automatic clipping
apparatus which will disengage itself from an exploded signal and bring forward a
fresh one when actuated from a distance, but will place an undamaged signal
again and again in position after it having been withdrawn until such time as it be
actually used.
2nd. The automatic spring clipping apparatus substantially as described, whether
actuated by spring, weight, wedge, or otherwise.
3rd. The construction of fog signal and signal chamber substantially as described
in such manner that it shall be impossible for the signal to be presented in a wrong
position for the clip to grasp it securely.
4th. The general arrangement of apparatus and separate parts substantially as
and for the purposes herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Keighley, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventeenth day of March, in the year of our Lord 1877.
Witness,
JOHN H. SLOANE,
Clerk to W. P. Thompson,
Patent Agent,
6, Lord Street,
Liverpool.
JOHN KEIGHLEY. (LS.)