Improvements in Automatic Fog Signalling Apparatus for Railways.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 6th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 29th Feb., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Fog Signalling Apparatus for
Railways.
I, RALPH BOSTOCK, of White Swan Inn, Brighouse, in the County of York,
Licensed Viotualler, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be na
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in appliances for automatically fireing
or striking fog signals as used on railways, the object being to enable the points-
man to automatically place a signal in the position necessary to be fired or
discharged by the train at the same time that the ordinary signals are operated,
and also to indicate to the pointsman that such signal is in position, and also that
the striker is raised and ready to be caused to drop by the next train passing along
the rails.
According to this invention, I employ a disc, in the periphery of which are
recesses into which the signals are fed from a hopper. Above the disc is a
weighted striker connected by chain or wire with a wheel or L lever, which is
connected by wire or chain with a pointsman's lever in the signal box, or to the
wire or chain for operating the ordinary signal. The weighted striker is also
conncoted by a link to a lever which carries a finger or catch engaging with a
ratchet wheel on the axis of the disc carrying the signal.
When the pointsman pulls the lever in his cabin, the weighted striker is raised
until it is held by a catch, which is released by the weight of an engine or vehicle
passing along the rails, and the weighted striker falls on to the signal and
discharges or fires it.
At the same time that the weighted striker is raised, the link and lever
operating on the ratchet wheel, move round the disc until the next succeeding
recess containing a fog signal is brought under the weighted striker, there being
at each movement, oue signal fed into the disc from the hopper, and one carried
under the striker.
In order that the pointsman may know that the weighted striker has fallen on
to the signal, and the train passed at the proper time, and also that the strikor is
raised and caught by the bolding catch, fingers are provided on the weighted
striker, which come in contact with buttons of electrical bells or wires, either at
the top or bottom of the stroke as the case may be, and completing the circuit,
advise the pointsman by ringing a bell in his cabin.
Dated this 5th day of March 1895
BRIERLEY & HOWARD,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Fog Signalling Apparatus for
Railways.
I, RALPH BOSTOCK, of White Swan Inn, Brighouse, in the County of York,
Licensed Victualler, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in appliances for automatically feeding
and firing or striking fog siguals as used on railways, the object being to enable
the pointsman to automatically place a signal in the position necessary to be fired
or discharged by the train at the same time that the ordinary signals are operated,
and also to indicate to the pointsman that such signal is in position, and also that
the etriker is raised and ready to be caused to drop by the next train passing
along the rails.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention, the following is a
completo description of same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
in which :-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the automatic fog signalling apparatus heroin
.described.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1..
Fig. 3 is a detail shewing the method of and means employed for operating the
ratchet wheel and recessed disc.
According to this invention, I employ a disc 1 in the periphery of which are
recesses 2, 2, into which the signals or detonators are fed from a hopper 3, the
detonators being placed one on top of the other in the hopper 3, and forced down-
wards by a weight. Above the disc 1 is a weighted striker 4, connected by
links 5, 5 with an ordinary pointsman's lever 6, which is connected by wire or
chain with a pointsman's lever in the signal box, or to the wire or chain for
operating the ordinary signal. The weighted striker 4 is also connected by a
link 7 to a lever 8, which carries a finger or catch 9, engaging with a ratchet
wheel 10 on the axis of the disc 1 for carrying the signal detonators.
When the pointsman pulls the lever in his cabin, the weighted striker 4, is
by the lever 6 and links 5. 5, raised until it is held by a catch or notch 11 in the
lever 12, which is pivoted at 13 and pulled inwards by spring 13ª. The
weighted striker 4 is released by the weight of an engine or vehicle passing
along the rails, and on one of the wheels pressing on the finger 14, which gives
a partial turn to the rod 15, the latter by lever 16 and link 17 pulls the lower
end of the lever 12, so that the notch II is withdrawn from under the weighted
striker 4, which then falls on to the detonator, and discharges or fires it.
At the same time that the weighted striker 4 is raised, the link 7 and lever 8
operating on the ratchet wheel 10, move round the disc 1 until the next
succeeding recess containing a fog signal is brought under the weighted
striker 4, there being at each movement, one detonator fed into the disc 1 from
the hopper 3, and one carried under the striker 4.
To maintain the disc 1 in the correct position to which it has been moved by the
pointsman, a second ratchet wheel 18 is fixed on the axis of the disc 1, and a
catch 19 on the spring rod 20 is moved upwards by the inclined piece 21, when
the lever 12 is moved inwards, so that the catch 19 engages with one of the teeth
of the ratobet wheel 18. In order to prevent the disc 1 moving in the opposite
direction, a spring catch 22 is employed which engages with one of the recesses in
the disc 1.
In order to ensure with certainty the catch 19 being removed from the wheel 18
at the proper tinie, the spring rod 20, is by rod 24, connected with the striker 4,

page_text: and as the latter descends, the collar 25 on the rod 24, forces down the rod 20 and
catch 19.
The detonators are removed from the recesses in the disc 1 by means of the presser
finger 26, with a bifurcated end received in recesses 23 in the periphery of the
disc 1, so that as the latter revolves, the discharged detonators are raised out of
the recesses and fall by gravitation down the shoot 27.
Springs 28, 28 are for the purpose of preventing the striker 4 rebounding after
firing a detonator, and to give greater force to the blow.
The pointsman's lever 6 is brought to its normal position, and prevented from
jarring or rebounding by weight 29.
The apparatus is preferably used in duplicate with the respective operating
fingers 14 arranged some distance apart, so that two detonators are fired, one
shortly after the other. The whole apparatus is enclosed in a box or oasing to
protect it from the weather, dirt, and the like.
In order that the pointsman may know that the weighted striker 4 has fallen on
to the detonator, and the train passed at the proper time, and also that the
striker 4 is raised and caught by the holding catch 11, fingers 30, 31 are provided
on the weighted striker 4, which fingers come in contact with buttons of electrical
bells or wires either at the top or bottom of the stroke, as the case may be, and
completing the circuit, advise the pointsman by ringing a bell in his cabin.
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 general construction, arrangement, and combination of parts constituting
the improved automatic fog signalling apparatus, as and for the purpose herein
described, and substantially as illustrated by the annexed drawings.
(2.) The recessed disc 1, weighted striker 4, links 5, and lever 6, the link 7,
lever 8, catch 9, ratchot wheel 10, and the notched holding lover 12, all in com-
bination operated as and for the purpose herein described, and substantially as
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
(3.) The recessed disc 1, weighted striker 4, links 5, and lever 6, together with
the bifurcated finger 26, all in combination, as and for the purpose herein
described, and substantially as illustrated by the drawings annexed.
Doked this 5th day
A December 1805.
OTC CHO VEU AYY
RALPH BOSTOCK,
By his Agents, Brierley & Howard,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax.