Improvements in Fog-signalling Apparatus for Railways.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 26th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 1st Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fog-signalling Apparatus for Railways.
I, CHARLES TIGHE of 42 Lombard Street, in the City of London, Hosier, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention has for its object improvements in means or apparatus employed in
connection with detonating fog signals for railways, whereby they are enabled to be
placed in position to be exploded by the signalman within his cabin.
In carrying my invention into effect, I connect the detonating fog signals to a chain
or cable in any convenient manner, and I provide this chain or cable with suitable
fixings at the required intervals to enable the signals to be readily attached thereto at
the proper distances.
This chain or cable is arranged at the side of one of the rails, so as to pass over
suitable guide rollers and fixed guides on to and away from an anvil or anvils, upon
which the detonators are exploded by the flange of a passing wheel. The anvil is
preferably formed with a groove or recess to receive the signals, and the shape of the .
latter and their means of connection with the chain or cable are so arranged as to offer
no obstacle to their passage over the guide rollers and on to and off the anvil or anvils,
and thereby prevent accidental displacement thereof. The chain or cable is preferably
led into the signal box over a wheel, by which it can be readily moved forward or
backward to place a signal or series of signals on one or more anvils, and so on as
they are exploded, or to withdraw them from the anvil or anvils if they should not be
required. The operating wheel is connected by gearing with a suitable indicator, by
which the number of signals used and of those still on the chain or cable can be readily
ascertained.
The operating wheel is also provided with indications which will show the number
of signals, if any, in position to be exploded on the anvil or anvils. The anvil may be
long enough to receive three signals to be exploded thereon, or I may use three anvils
of such sizes, and arranged at such distances apart, as to enable either one, two, or
three signals to be placed in position thereon to be exploded.
In order to enable the signalman to be informed within the signal box whether a
signal has been exploded, and so render him independent of the noise actually caused
by the explosion itself, I cause the signal when exploding to act upon either a
mechanical, electrical, or telephonic signalling apparatus, to give either an audible or
visible signal within the signal box itself.
As the chain or cable returns exhausted to the signalman's cabin, the signalman can
readily affix fresh signals thereto, so as to keep it constantly supplied.
The chain or cable will pass through tubing, or be otherwise protected.
בד
1000
Lance S
CHARLES TIGHE.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fog-signalling Apparatus for Railways.
I, CHARLES TIGHE, of 42 Lombard Street, in the City of London, Hosier, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The invention has for its object improvements in means or apparatus employed in
connection with detonating fog signals for railways, whereby they are enabled to be
placed in position to be exploded by the signalman within his cabin.

page_text: In carrying my invention into effect, I connect the detonating fog signals to a chain
or cable in any convenient manner, and I provide this chain or cable with suitable
fixings at the required intervals to enable the signals to be readily attached thereto at
the proper distances.
:
This chain or cable is arranged at the side of one of the rails, so as to pass over
suitable guide rollers and fixed guides, on to and away from an anvil or anvils, upon
which the detonators are exploded by the flange of a passing wheel. The anvil is
preferably formed with a groove or recess to receive the signals, and the shape of the
latter and their means of connection with the chain or cable are so arranged as to offer
no obstacle to their passage over the guide rollers and on to and off the anvil or anvils,
and thereby prevent accidental displacement thereof. The chain or cable is preferably
led into the signal box over a wheel, by which it can be readily moved forward or
backward to place a signal or series of signals on one or more anvils, and so on as
they are exploded, or to withdraw them from the anvil or anvils if they should not be
required. The operating wheel is connected by gearing with a suitable indicator, by
which the number of signals used, and of those still on the chain or cable, can be,
readily ascertained.
The operating wheel is also provided with indications, which will show the number
of signals, if any, in position to be exploded on the anvil or anvils. The anvil may be
long enough to receive three signals to be exploded thereon, or I may use three signals
of such sizes, and arranged at such distances apart, as to enable either one, two, or
three signals to be placed in position thereon to be exploded.
In order to enable the signalman to be informed within the signal box whether a
signal has been exploded, and so render him independent of the noise actually caused
by the explosion itself, I cause the signal when exploding to act upon either a
mechanical, electrical, or telephonic signalling apparatus, to give either an audible or
visible signal within the signal box itself.
As the chain or cable returns exhausted to the signalman's cabin, the signalman can
readily affix fresh signals thereto, so as to keep it constantly supplied.
The chain or cable will pass through tubing or be otherwise protected.
And in order that my said invention may be more clearly understood and readily.
carried into effect, I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings, more fully to
describe the same.

page_text: This detonator or fog signal g is formed with a base or foundation of metal or other
suitable flexible material, which at one end is formed with a key hole shaped slot g¹ to
pass over a headed stud or pin f³, whilst the other end is formed with an elongated
slot g² to pass over a turn button ffixed to the carrier f¹, by which means the
detonator or fog signal g is readily fixed to the carrier, and when exploded is readily
removed therefrom. I would here remark that other forms of detonators and of
carriers may be employed, as also other methods of fixing the same to the carriers,
without departing from the peculiar character of my.invention.
The endless chain passes over guide pulleys h in its passage between the signal-
man's cabin and the anvil or anvils, and in order that the detonators or fog signals
may be protected against the risk of explosion when passing around these guide pulleys,
1 line the peripheral grooves of the latter with vulcanized rubber, as shown at h¹, so as
to avoid concussion on the chain passing over such pulleys. is a wheel or pulley
mounted in the signalman's cabin, and which is formed on its periphery like a sprocket
wheel to receive the links of the endless chain f, and with one or more recesses,
according to the dimensions of such pulloy i, of suitable size and shape to receive the
carriers in succession as they arrive; such pulley i is provided with a bandle by
which it may be operated when required, and it may be provided with locking gear,
by which it may be held in the position to which it has been set. I also in some cases
connect such pulley i to a counting apparatus, so that the number of fog signals used
may at any time be ascertained, but as the signalman can at any time withdraw the
fog signals from the anvil or anvils d, the counting gear must be arranged so that it
can work backwards as well as forwards.
The detonating strikers e are fitted with pins e', to work in holes formed in the anvil
or anvils, or they are otherwise suitably mounted and guided, and they are acted upon
by plate or other form of springs to keep them raised in their normal position shown
in Figure 4.
On the wheels of a train, carriage or engine passing over the detonating strikers e,
the latter will be depressed and will thereby explode the signal or signals resting on
the anvil or anvils.
The anvil shown in the drawings is supposed to be long enough to receive three
fog signals at six feet distances apart, and the striker e is divided into suitable lengths
so as to prevent undue strain thereon as the wheels pass over the same.
In order to enable the signalman to be informed within the signal box whether a
signal has been exploded, and so render him independent of the noise actually caused
by the explosion itself, I according to one arrangement, mount in a recess in the anvil,
a spring contact and a fixed contact, so that on a signal being detonated, the force of
the explosion will cause the spring contact to touch the fixed contact and so close an
electric circuit, whereby a semaphore arm or a bell in the signalman's cabin is operated.
Other suitable means for conveying this information to the signalman may however be
adopted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In fog signalling apparatus for railways, an endless chain fitted at intervals with
signal carriers, to which signals can be readily applied and removed, cushioned guide
ulleys to carry the chain between the signalman's cabin and the place where they are
o be exploded, a grooved anvil or anvils to receive the signals, a spring striker
rranged above such anvil, and an operating wheel constructed to give positive motion
o the endless chain carrying the detonators, substantially as herein shown and
lescribed.
2. In fog signalling apparatus for railways, the peculiar arrangement and com-
ination of parts, substantially as herein shown and described.
3. In fog signalling apparatus, an endless chain carrying fog signals, an anvil or
nvils, a striker or strikers operated by the wheels of passing vehicles, and means for

page_text: signalling to the signalman within his cabin when a signal has been exploded, sub-
stantially as berein described.
Dated this 26th day of Sentember 1890.
CHARLES TIGHE.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.