Improvements in and connected with Signalling on Railways.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application. 22nd July, 1889
Complete Specification Left. 22nd Apr., 1890-4ccented, 12th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Signalling on Railways.
I, JOHN HODOESON, of 38, Halls Terrace. Thelwall Lane, Latchford, in the County
of Chester, Railway Signal Inspector, do hereby declare the nature of iny said Inven-
tion to be as follows:-
My Invention mainly has reference to what is known as "fogging" on railways,
namely, signalling by explosive detonators or sounding signals; the system being also
applicable as warning signals for platelayers, and like purposes.
The system at present in general use on railways for danger or other warning by
sound signals consists in placing explosive detonating fog signals on the rails or metals
by manual labour, said signals being exploded by the wheel or wheels of the locomotive,
tendor, or carriages as they pass over the said signal. The siguals are renewed by the
fogman placing fresh siguals on the metals by hand after and as often as the signals
are exploded. It has also been proposed to place the signals on the metals by
mechanical means worked in connection with the usual semaphore or other mechanical
signals, but this system-like the manual system-roquires a special attendant to
replenish the signals as they are used.
According to my Invention I place warning sound signals such as fog signals.
which may be explosive detonating fog signals, or other sound signals-such as a bell
or gong or whistle-on the locomotive, tender or carriage (aud under the control of
the engine driver or guard) in such a manner that they will or can be placed in position
and exploded-or will or can be sounded as the case may bo-automatically, as the
locomotive, tender, or carriage passes the place or point where the warning signal is
required to be given. In the case of detonating fog signals the signals are carried in
series and arranged to be self feeding to the point where they are to be exploded or
sounded, one or more signals being always in place and ready to be sounded as the
locomotive, tendor or carriage passes the point when the warning is required to be
given. In the case of sound signals of the bell or whistle nature, I provide a means
by which said signal is sounded automatically at the required time and place. To
cause the automatic action in either or both of the above named signals, namely, the
explosive detonator, or the hell or whistle, I provide a means or device on the rail or
rails or metals that will, as the locomotive, tender or carriage passes the point where
such means or device is placed, bring into action the automatic mechanism which
places the signal and causes the signal to be exploded, or brings into action the
inechanism that causes the bell or whistle to be sounded.
I will now describe means. under which the above system of signalling inay be
carried out.
1 place a bell or gong or any other suitable sounding alarm device on
the locomotive in a convenient position within hearing of the engine driver and 1.
provide in connection with the hammer or striker of the bell or gong a trigger or like
device and a system of levers and a plate, or equivalent device adapted to work said
lever, said plate being arranged to be actuated by a device on the rail, rails or metals,
the said plate being by preference provided with a brush of bristles or other yielding
face that will reduce or prevent the concussion due to said plate atriking or coming in
contact with the actuating device on the line, which said device may be a cam, wedge,
or other projection which is connected to and worked or brought into position by
the ordinary signal wires of the line or connected with and worked by the inechanism
of the semaphore signals, the action being regulated by the semaphore or usual danger
signal, namely, when said signal is at danger the cam or other projection is raised
or placed ready to make contact with and actuate the plate, brush or other device on
the locomotive as it passes the point where the cam or projection is placed. The
contact between said parts causes the mechanism on the locomotive to bring the bell

page_text: A
into action which is then sonnded by a striker worked by a lever and actuated from a
moving part of the engine such as a cam on one of the axles of the wheels or other
moving part. The parts bare arranged so that the bell or gong will continue to sound
until it is thrown out of gear by the engine driver by means of a lever or other
device provided for that purpose. Under circumstances where it is required to sound
the signals independently of the semaphore or like signals, for example, in the case of
guarding platelayers and for like purposes, the cam or like device is so constructed
that it can be readily attached to the rail, rails or metals at any required point so that
it will make contact with the plate or brush on the locomotive as it passes over it.
In the case of explosive fog signals I provide a receptacle on any convenient part
of the locomotive that will hold a number of fog siguals in series or order one over
the other or side by side and so that they can be delivered one after the other.
convenient form of receptacle consists of a vertical cylindrical tube placed over a pear
shaped shoot in the head of which works a disc; in this tube the fog signals are placed
one over the other. The disc is provided with a slot or slots one of which in the
normal position of the disc is under the tube and receives or contains a fog signal.
Below the disc the shoot is provided with two ducts, one on each side, extending to
near the mouth of the shoot which comes over a device for crushing and exploding
the fog signal. This device may consist of a wheel placed in front of one of the wheels
of the locomotive, for example, on the wheel guard, and between which and the said
wheel the fog signal is crushed and exploded; or instead of crushing the fog signal by
means of the wheels above mentioned I provide a rocking jaw or jaws worked by a
lever which is worked by a cam on the axle of the locomotive or from some other
moving part of the engine. The delivery or feeding disc is worked by a rod connected
to the mechanism before described for working the bell, and operated by the plate or
brush and the cam or like device on the rail, rails or metals.
The above described arrangements, namely, the bell and the detonating fog signal
inay be arranged to act in conjunction or separately.
The apparatus on the locomotive is under the control of the engine driver and can.
be thrown in or out of gear by him; thus at any time in case of a doubtful signal the
driver may place the warning signal in gear to ascertain the position of the signal he
is passing.
In the foregoing specification I have described certain modes and means of signalling
according to my invention; but I wish it to be understood that these precise modes
and means or apparatus may be amplified or modified and their equivalents employed
withont departing from this Invention, for example, the means or mechanism for
working the signals may be mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, or electrical.
Dated this 20th day of July 1000.
Too.
JOHN HODGESON.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Signalling on Railways.
1, JOHN HODGESON, of 38, Halls Terrace, Thelwall Lane, Latchford, in the County
of Chester, Railway Signal Inspector, do hereby declare the nature of iny said Inven-
tion to be as follows:
-
:
fogging
"
My Invention mainly has reference to what is known as
namely, signalling by explosive detonators or sounding signals; the system being also
on railways
applicable as warnings for platelayers, and like purposes.
The system at present in general use ou railways, for danger or other warning by
sound signals, consists in placing explosive detonating fog signals on the rails or
metals by manual labour; said signals being exploded by the wheel or wheels of
the locomotive, tender or carriages, as they pass over the said signal. The signals
are renewed by the fogman placing fresh signals on the metals by hand, after and
as often as the signals are exploded. It has been also proposed to place the siguals

page_text: on the metals by mechanical means, worked in connection with the usual semaphore
or other mechanical signals, but this system-like the manual system-requires a
special attendant to replenish the signals as they are used.
According to my Invention I place warning sound signals such as fog signals,
which may be explosive detonating fog signals, or other sound signals-such as a bell,
er gong, or whistle-on the locomotive, tender, or carriage, (and under the control of
the engine driver or guard) in such a manner that they will or can be placed in
position and exploded-or will or can be sonnded as the case may be automatically,
as the locomotive, tender or carriage passes the place or point where the warning
signal is required to be given. In the case of detonating fog signals, the signals are
carried in series and arranged to be self feeding to the point where they are to be
exploded or sounded, one or more signals being always in place ready to be sounded
as the locomotive, tender or carriage, passes the point when the warning is required to
be given. In the case of sound signals of the bell or whistle nature, I provide a
means by which said signal is sounded automatically at the required time and place.
To cause the automatic action in either or both of the above named signals, namely,
the explosive detonator, or the bell or whistle, I provide a means or device on the rail
or rails or metals that will, as the locomotive, tender or carriage passes the point
where such means or device is placed, bring into action the automatic mechanism
which places the signal and causes the signal to be exploded, or brings into action the
mechanism that causes the bell or whistle to be sounded.
I will now describe means under which the above system of signalling may be
carried out. I place a bell or gong or any other suitable sounding alarm device on
the locomotive, in a convenient position within hearing of the engine driver, and I
provide, in connection with the hammer or striker of the bell or gong, trigger or
like device and a system of levers and a plate, or equivalent device adapted to work
said lever, said plate being arranged to be actuated by a device on the rail, rails or
metals, the said plate being, by preference, provided with a brush of bristles or other
yielding face, that will reduce or prevont the concussion due to said plate striking or
coming in contact with the actuating device on the line, which said device may be a
cam, wedge, or other projection, which is connected to, and worked or brought into,
position by, the ordinary signal wires of the line, or connected with and worked by
the mechanism of the semaphore signals, the action being regulated by the semaphore
or usual danger signal, namely, when said signal is at "danger" the cam or other
projection is raised or placed ready to make contact with and actuate the plate, brush,
or other device, on the locomotive, as it passes the point where the cam or projection
is placed. The contact between said parts causes the mechanism on the locomotive to
bring the bell into action which is then sounded by a striker worked by a lever and
actuated from a moving part of the engine, such as a can on one of the axles of the
wheels or other moving part. The parts are arranged so that the bell or gong will
continue to sound until it is thrown out of gear by the engine driver, by means of a
lever or other device provided for that purpose. Under circumstances where it is
required to sound the signals independently of the semaphore of like signals, for
example, in the case of guarding plate layers, and for like purposes, the cam or like
device is so constructed that it can be readily attached to the rail, rails or metals, at
any required point, so that it will make contact with the plate or brush on the,
locomotive as
passes over it.
A
In the case of explosive fog signals, I provide a receptacle on any convenient part
of the locomotive, that will hold a number of fog signals in series, or order one over
the other, or side by side, and so that they can be delivered one after the other.
convenient forin of receptacle consists of a vertical cylindrical tube, placed over a pear
shaped shoot in the head of which works a disc; in this tube the fog signals are
placed, one over the other. The disc is provided with a slot or slots, one of which in
the normal position of the disc is under the tube and receives or contains a fog signal.
Below the disc the shoot is provided with two ducts, one on each side, extending to
near the mouth of the shoot, which comes over a device for crushing and exploding
the fog sigual. This device may consist of a wheel placed in front of the wheels of

page_text: the locomotive, for example, ou the wheel guard, and between which and the said
wheel the fog signal is crushed and exploded; or, instead of crushing the fog signal
by means of the wheels above mentioned, I provide a rocking jaw or jaws, worked by
a lever which is worked by a cam on the axle of the locomotive, or from some other
moving part of the engine. The delivery or feeding device is worked by a rod
connected to the mechanism before described for working the bell, and operated by
the plate or brush, and the cam or like device on the rail, rails or metals.
The above described arrangements, namely, the bell and the detonating fog signal,
may be arranged to act in conjunction or separately.
The apparatus on the locomotive is under the control of the engine driver and cau
be thrown in or out of gear by him; thus at any time-in case of a doubtful signal-
the driver may place the warning signal in gear to ascertain the position of the signal
he is passing.
Having thus specified generally the nature of my invention, its description will now
be proceeded with in reference to the drawings hereunto annexed and forming a part
of this specification, by way of explaining more fully the nature of my invention.
The drawings and the description of them set forth together a special construction of
signalling apparatus designed to carry out the system of signalling the nature of which
has been above explained.
In the drawings the same letters and figures of reference are used to denote the
same parts wherever they occur
Figure is a side elevation of a railway locomotive engine provided with
apparatus according to my invention for carrying out the above described system of
signalling.
Figure 2 is a side elevation, Figure 3 is an ond view, and Figure 4 is a plan, of the
device I provide on the rails to bring into action the signalling mechanism on the
engine.
Figure is a side elevation, drawn to a larger scale, of the fog signal feeding
device; and Figure 6 is an end view of the same.
With reference to the Drawings-which serve to give an example of my invention
(being a combined arrangement of bell and explosive signal devices)-A desiguates a
locomotive engine; B the rail or track on which it runs. a is a bell or gong fixed
on the engine or tender; b is the hammer or striker of the bell a. c is a lever which
works the hammer b; d is a cam on the axle of the wheels D, which cam works the
hammer and thus causes the bell to sound. e is a lever, and el a rod, by which
the bell mechanisms is thrown in or out of gear.
is
designates the receptacle or magazine for carrying the explosive fog signals;
a lever worked by the can on the axle of the wheels E, which lever works a rocking
bar which crushes and explodes the explosive fog signals, as they are discharged
from the receptacle f, against the plate . j is a rod which runs from the magazine j
to the bell mechanism. One end of this rod j is provided with a connecting rod k,
which works the discharging device of the magazine f, and the other end is provided
with a wedge device l, which brings the bell mechanism into action. This rod j is
worked by a bell crank lever m, carried on the bracket ml; the bell crank lever m is
worked by the rod n, which is moved by the plate p, said plate being actuated by the
device s on the rail B. The plate p is by preference provided on its underside with a
brush p', of bristles or other yielding material, to reduce the concussion due to the
plate p striking the device 8. The link p is used to give a parallel motion to the
plate p and keep it in correct position.
The devices on the rail-and by which the plate p is worked, consists of a cam ×
carried on a shaft t', supported by means of a bracket 2, fixed to the rail B, and a
side bracket t*. On the shaft t' there are two pulleys v, vl, the pulley being provided
with a chain or wire and weight, or equivalent means, for bringing the device up
when required, and the pulley is connected by means of a chain or wire to the

page_text: 68
ordinary signalling apparatus of the railway, which may be the usual semaphore or
other signalling apparatus, or to a hand lever or other means,-that is to say, the
devices is raised so that it projects above the rail B when the semaphore signal is at
dauger" and will cause the signalling apparatus ou the locomotive to sound as the
locomotive passes over it, and when the semaphore signal is at "line clear" the
devices is lowered below the level of the rai! B (see Figure 2). The device & may be
placed at any required point on the line, and worked by any known means, or it may
be simply placed securely on the rail so that it is always in a raised position; this
latter plan being applicable for warning signals for purposes such as blocking the
line by platelayers or for other purposes.
In the bell or gong device mechanisin illustrated at Figure 1 of the Drawings, the
bell a is fixed on the side of the engine or tender and is worked, that is sounded, by
the hammer b, actuated by the cam d each time the axle of the wheels D revolves, so
that when actuated the bell continues sounding until the hammer b is thrown out of
gear. To put the hammer in and out of gear there is provided on the end of the rodj
a wedge piece l, which passes through a pin working vertically in a boss ; the
lower end of the pin is arranged to enter a hole in the rod el, so that it will lock
the rod el, and keep the hammer b out of gear by means of the stop e on the end of
the rode and when the rod j, by reason of the plate p coming into contact with the
devices, draws back the wedge piece 6, and thereby draws the pin out of the rod c',
thus allowing the hammer b to strike the bell a and continue striking it until stopped
by the engine driver putting the hammer b out of gear, which is done by moving the
lever e so that the stop e on the rod e' comes against and draws back the hammer b,
and the pin again enters the rod e and locks it, also holding up the lever c so that
it is not operated by the movement of the cam d until the next movement of the
plate, which again unlocks it.
12
The receptacle or magazine for holding and discharging the explosive fog signals
(which are of the ordinary detonating kind), shewn at Figures 1, 5, and 6, of the
drawings, consists of a vertical cylindrical tube in which a number of detonators fi
are placed, one on the top of another, f being the weight to keep and feed them
down the tube f; a rod on the weight serves to shew the number of signals in
the magazine. The tube is placed over a pear shaped shoot f, in the head of which
there is disc kl, worked and turned backwards and forwards by the rodsk and j. The
disc k is provided with slots w, w, one of which in the normal position of the disc, is
directly under the tube or magazine/, and always contains a detonator (the bottom one
of the series). The disc ' is turned by the action of the rod k until the slot w comes to
the side of the shoot where the detonator is discharged into the lead u. This
consists of a tube u, on a bar, which is carried on the shaft y' and rocks with the
lever g.
The tube u has a shield which, as the bar i¹ rocks over, prevents the
detonator from passing into the tube until the upstroke of the lever g' and bar i,
when the mouth of the tube x is opened, and the detonator passes down. The next
down stroke of the lever causes the bar i to open from the plate i, the detonator
passes between them and is exploded on the next upstroke of the lever g.
On the return stroke of the disc, the detonator which has come into the
slot to, is discharged down the side ♬ of the shoot, and is in its turn exploded by the
jaws i, ij.
To enable the signalling apparatus to be thrown in or out of gear, there is provided
on the engine a hand lever x, connected by a rod xl to a lever ; one end of the
lever is connected by a rod y to the lever c of the "bell" signalling gear, and the
other end is connected by the rods z to the lever g of the "detonator" signalling
gear. The connections of the lever c and g with the rods y, z, are made by slotted
ends on the rods, so that when the apparatus is working, the levers, c, and g, are free
to move. The apparatus is kept out of gear by placing the lever and its gear so
that the levers c and g are prevented from falling as the cams d, h, revolve. To raise
the plate p and prevent its contact with the devices, there is provided a pin m² on the
bell crank lever m, which takes into a slot in the rod z, so that as the rod z is moved
by the lever x-to throw the levers c, g, out of gear-it comes in contact with the
41.

page_text: pin and causes the bell crank lever m to be moved so as to raise the plate p, and
brush, up out of the way of the device.
In the foregoing specification I have described certain nodes and means of
signalling according to my invention, and certain arrangements and construction of
parts for carrying it into effect, but I wish it to be understood that these precise
modes and means, and arrangement and construction of parts, may be amplified or
modified, and their equivalents employed, without departing from my invention, for
example the means or mechanism for communicating from the line or track to the
engine and working the signals may be mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, or electric
Also the means for working the signalling apparatus may be varied, for example
friction wheels, eccentrics, cranks, or their equivalent, may be used, instead of the
cams and levers described and illustrated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The herein described method of signalling on railway trains to the person in
control thereof, in the time of fog or other like equivalent times, consisting in causing an
audible signal, such as a gong or whistle, to be sounded, or a detonator to be exploded
on and by the motion of the engine, in the hearing of the person in control of the
train, by a contact device in connection with the rail track, which operates, or sets in
operation, said sound or signal, said contact device being disposed on the track at a
point where such signal is required; substantially as set forth.
2. Signalling to the persons in control of railway trains in the time of fog, or other
like or analogous times, by means of a sounding device, such as specified, on the
engine, and adapted to be operated by mechanism disposed thereon, and a device on
the track, in contact with which the said device on the engine comes, when in motion,
and by which it is actuated; substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The herein described mode of signalling in connection with the engines of
railway trains, for use in times of fog, or other equivalent times, consisting in
providing on the engine a chamber and mechanism adapted to hold detonators, or a
gong or equivalent sounding device, or both, and mechanism adapted to be operated
hy the engine, by which such detonators are exploded, or such sounding devices
sounded, and a device on or connected with the rail track, by which said detonator
exploding mechanism, or said sounding device, actuating mechanism. or both, is or
are operated; substantially as described.
4. In systems of signalling in connection with the engines of railway trains, for use
in times of fog, or other equivalent times, the combination, on the engine, of a chamber
or chambers, adapted to hold a number of detonators, and mechanism, operated by
the engine, by which said detonators are exploded; arranged and adapted to operate
substantially as described; and also the arrangement and construction of such parts
or mechanisms, as set forth with reference to the drawings.
5. The combination of a device, such as p, on the locomotive A, with a device, such
ass, connected with the track, said two nechanisins or devices being adapted to
actuate, through suitable gear such as specified, a detonating mechanism or sounding
device, or both, on the locomotive, and said devices being adapted to be set so as to
come in contact with each other, or not as required; substantially as and for the
purposes described.
6. A detonator storing and feeding mechanism, combined with and disposed on a
suitable part of a railway locomotive, and adapted to feed said detonators seriuatim to
an exploding mechanism actuated by the engine; substantially as and for the purposes
set forth; and also such mechanism as constructed, arranged, and operating, and as
set forth with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings.
11000
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.