IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR WORKING FOG SIGNALS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Worthington, of Wigan, in the County of
Lancaster, Veterinary Surgeon, for the Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR WORKING FOG SIGNALS."
Sealed the 11th August 1876, and dated the 29th February 1876.
6
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Worthington at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th February 1876.
WILLIAM WORTHINGTON, of Wigan, in the County of Lancaster, Veterinary
Surgeon. 'IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR WORKING FOG SIGNALS."
"
On the eleventh day of this same month I lodged a Provisional Specification for
Improvements in Working Fog Signals."
This Invention consists of still further improvements in that Invention, all of
which it will be necessary for me to describe again, as I supersede that by this,
which combines the whole.
I provide a vertical pillar firmly fixed alongside of the railway where the signal
is required. The top end of this pillar is made to receive a radial arm for horizontal
or other action, counterpoised, and for positions where there is little room or near a
wall it is fitted with an arm elbowed on to the top end of pillar and jointed and
nearly counterpoised. The radial arm is swivelled at a proper distance from the
outer or extreme end. In the upper or under side of each of these arms is a groove
terminating at the pillar in a box surrounding the upper end of such pillar, the
other end terminating in another box provided to receive a ratchet or other wheel
In this groove I work a
working on a spindle, being the outer end of such arms.
catch lever, the top end of which works into and forms a catch finger in ratchet or
other wheel. The other end of this lever is hinged to the top end of pillar (or
equivalently connected), so that by the action of the radial arm in a given portion
of a circle the catch finger lever is made to slide up and down the groove provided,
and the outer or finger end coming in contact with a tooth in ratchet or other
wheel by its return, radial, or other motion moves such wheel one tooth every
motion. These grooves and boxes are covered by plates. Through the plate of the
outer end of radial arm a spindle passes from and through the ratchet or other
wheel, centre, on which I key a nave and projecting tubes cast into it in number
and length to suit the requirements. These tubes are slotted on two sides, in which

page_text: works a finger connected to spiral spring inside of such tube which serves to
displace an exploded signal and replace it with another ready. The ratchet or
other wheel will be provided with the same number of teeth that there are arms or
tubes.
On the centre of the nave I may or not fix a round or other shaped box for
containing any number of signals required for repetition, and may be placed or
fixed to each arm apparatus, so that when one is exploded and the radial arm
moves one section, bringing another signal on to the rail, the same action replaces
the one exploded by one unexploded, possibly at the same time removing the debris.
The radial action of the arm one tooth of the wheel brings round another arm or tube
ready charged, and so may go on for as many signals as the apparatus may be pro-
vided with. This radial arm may be worked from any distance by means of the
signal machinery usually employed.
The fog signals I provide "when.Inade" with suitable fastenings of wire or other
equivalent. The arm signal for confined or wall places are similarly arranged as to
mechanical detail and supply.
In conclusion I do not confine myself to the precise details here named, as for
instance I shall not use tubes for instruments where only one signal is required for
each arm, but may use a solid arm of any other material.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Worthington in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th
August 1876.
WILLIAM WORTHINGTON, of Wigan, in the County of Lancaster, Veterinary
Surgeon. 'IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR WORKING FOG SIGNALS."
"
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my apparatus horizontally fixed, showing everything
in position with one of the fog signals on the rail; Fig. 2, plan of the same.
Fig. 3, side elevation of my apparatus fixed in a vertical position, the dotted
lines showing the arm up; Fig. 4 is plan of same.
A in Fig. 1 is a vertical pillar fixed in any convenient position alongside the
railway; B is a radial arm which works horizontally or at an angle on pivot C, on
the side of which is a hinge joint or its equivalent D; E is a counterpoise weight
which likewise suffices for connecting link with signalman; F, F, is a catch lever
jointed or equivalently fixed at D, this pivot C and joint D forms part or is firmly
secured to pillar A. The catch lever F works freely in radial arm B. The top or
outer end works into and acts upon a catch wheel G in a box under signal nave,
such wheel being represented by Fig. 5. The box cast in radial arm A containing
joint D, catch lever F, and catch wheel G, is covered in by a plate made to fit, and
through which and arm B a spindle or pivot H passes, on which is keyed catch
wheel G and star nave or wheel I for carrying signals J, which nave or wheel may
be made to carry any number of signals in reason. This horizontal apparatus may
be worked at any angle, and the same description will apply to Figs. 3 and 4 with
very little alteration in detail.
The action of my apparatus is as follows:-The signalman at any distance when
desirous of placing a signal works the signal arm or lever under command in his
house (which arm is of the usual nature and construction), which brings the arm A
into position, as shown in the Figs. 2 and 4, thereby placing a signal on the rail,
and by simply working his lever as many times as he has signals placed on his star
wheel or nave. The catch lever, being jointed at D, is so far firm to the fixed or
firm fulcrum C. The radial arm thus moving on such fixed fulcrum gives motion to
or rather retains the catch finger lever which slides in its groove by the action of
such radial arm when such arm is moved from the rail side that it slips a tooth of
the catch wheel at every motion away; when moved again to the side of the rails it

page_text: takes up another tooth, and so on, till the whole are discharged. Therefore as
many signals as can be placed on the wheel can be discharged without the man
leaving his box or house. The catch wheel will have as many teeth in it as there
are arms on the star wheel.
The fog signals are of the usual construction, but have a suitable clip or con-
nection secured to them that may be easily removed when renewed, as the star
wheel works quite free of the rails. On the star wheel arms o I place a second and
third relay or supply of signals immediately behind those outer ones just exploded,
which I bring forward by a spring or other equivalent, but are kept back until the
arm has passed from the side of the rail by a finger fixed on the end of the radial
arm. This apparatus may therefore be charged with eight, sixteen, or twenty-four
signals at one time, which may be all discharged before it is necessary to go to it
again.
Having described my Invention, and several ways of applying it, I do not
confine myself to the precise details I have had occasion to describe and refer to, as
many variations may be made without deviating from the principle or main
features; but what I claim as novel and therefore secured to me herein is,―
First. The catch lever with its radial arm action in its entirety, as shown and
described, or its mechanically arranged equivalent, substantially as and for the
purpose herein-before set forth.
Second. The star wheel and its arrangements for carrying a relay of signals, and
the methods of bringing them forward, substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Worthington, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
WILLIAM WORTHINGTON. (L.S.)
Witness,
CHARLES B. MASSEY.