An Improved Apparatus for Placing Fog and other Signals on Rails.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 12th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 13th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Placing Fog and other Signals on
Rails.
GEORGE EDWIN LUCAS of 4 Sidney Terrace Homerton in the County of
Middlesex Gun Maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for placing fog and other
signals on rails which can be operated from the signal box or elsewhere and thus there
is no necessity for stationing men for this purpose along the line.
To carry out this object I make a suitable box or casing for this apparatus.wherein
1 erect a central vertical spindle on the lower part of which is secured án horizontal
disc with radial vertical teeth or lugs. Above the disc is loosly mounted round the
spindle an arm wherefrom: depends a dog or ratchet which can engage the teeth of
the disc and another arm with a similar dog or ratch t can be and preferably is
also loosely mounted round the spindle a little higher up and these dogs or ratchets
are so fitted as to be capable of revolving the disc in opposite directions and a ledge
is fitted to the side of the box to lift both these dogs or ratchets off the disc and
disengage the same therefrom when the ends of these arms are in their normal
positions at opposite ends of suitable horizontal guides. Above these arms a locking
lever is pivoted on the box or elsewhere which can lock the spindle in any desired
manner from which lever depend two tumblers and on the arms aforesaid are blocks
which can engage these tumblers and lift the locking lever. Above this locking lever
an horizontal partition is secured to the box wherethrough the spindle passes and
above this partition à table is secured to the spindle on or in which are formed a
number of radial compartments in each of which a suitable holder for the fog or other
signal can be held and secured an 1 the compartments are so fitted that the holders
which may be small metal plates stamped out into the proper shapes can easily and
quickly be placed in position and as easily and quickly be reinoved therefrom. A
suitable lid or cover is fitted to the box above this table and a certain part of the back
of the box on a level therewith or thereabouts is so fitted that it can be caused to open
and close or to slide up and down by the locking lever.
This box is placed in the desired position near the rail with its back towards the same
so that the upper surface of the rail is about on a level with the table and the lower
arm can be connected with the signal lever in the signal box and the upper arm with
another lever therein if and when this apparatus is to be operated therefrom and both
these arms can be so weighted as to be retained in their normal positions aforesaid.
The action of this apparatus is as follows. The table is duly loaded with the
desired signals which project therefrom radially on their holders and when the lower
arm is moved against its weight it first engages and lifts the locking lever releasing
the spindle and opening the back of the box and then the dog or ratchet slides off the
ledge and engaging a tooth of the disc causes the same with the spindle and the table
thereon to revolve until a signal passes through the back of the box and rests on the
rail when this arm has reached the opposite end of its guide and locked the upper
arm and the spindle. The lower arm can then when desired be allowed to return to
its normal position when this action can be repeated and so on or when this lower
arm is thus restored to its normal position the upper arm can be moved against its
weight whereby in a similar manner the spindle and the table thereon is caused to
revolve back again so that when this arm has been allowed to return to its normal

page_text: position and the lower arm is again moved as aforesaid the same signal can rest on the
rail and thus this apparatus is practically put out of action as no detonation may be
effected.
It is preferable therefore to fit both the arms to this apparatus but when desired I
can dispense with the upper arm.
An Improved Apparatus for Placing Fog and other Signals on
Rails.
I GEORGE EDWIN LUCAS of 4 Sidney Terrace Homerton in the County of Middlesex
Gun Maker 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 object of this my invention is to provide a very efficient and sure and trust-
worthy apparatus for placing fog and other signals on rails when required which can
be operated from the signal box or from other position as may be desired and therefore
when and wheresoever this my apparatus is fitted and used there will be no necessity
for stationing men for this purpose along the line that is to say it will not be absolutely
essential to the safe working of the traffic and thus obligatory that men shall be so
stationed.
In order the more clearly to explain my invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed I refer to the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a side
elevation partly in section of this apparatus Figure 2 is a plan of the upper part of
the same with the box removed Figure 3 is an horizontal section of the same taken
at a b in Figure 1 Figures 4 and 5 are back elevations of the same with several parts
thereof in different positions and Figures 6 and 7 are end and side elevations of the
locking lever of the apparatus.
I make any suitable casing for the apparatus wherein I erect a central vertical
spindle A to which near the bottom thereof is secured an horizontal dise B with a
number of radial vertical teeth or lugs B' on its upper surface. Above this disc B is
loosely mounted round the spindle A an arm wherefrom depends a dog or
ratchet C¹ which can engage the teeth B¹ of the disc B and another arm D with a
similar dog or ratchet can be and preferably is also loosely mounted round the
spindle A a little higher up and these dogs or ratchets C and D are so fitted in any
usual manner and are so placed preferably as is shewn on opposite sides of the spindle A
as to be capable of revolving the dise B in opposite directions and on one side of the
spindle A a ledge E can be fitted above the disc B it may be to the side of the casing
whereby both these dogs or ratchets C¹ and D' can be lifted off the disc B and
disengaged from the teeth B' thereof when the arms C and D are in their normal
positions as is shewn in Figures 3 and 5 at opposite ends of any suitable guides which
may be fitted therefor in the casfug in which positions these arms C and D can be
retained by weights connected thereto at C² and D².
Above the arms C and D a rocking lever F is mounted on an horizontal pivot
secured on the casing or elsewhere on one arm of which lever F is mounted a bolt F¹
which can lock the spindle A in manner as is hereinafter described and from the other
arm of this lever F which is so weighted as to be normally the lower arm depend two
tumblers F2 and F3 and on the arms C and D are erected blocks or contact posts G
and G' which severally can engage these tumblers F2 and F3 and lift this arm of
the lever when these arms C and D are moved against their weights only and
therefore the tumblers F2 and F3 are so mounted preferably on opposite sides of the
lover F and the meeting faces of these tumblers F2 and F3 and of the blocks G and G+¹
are so bevelled and formed as is shewn in Figures 1, 3, 6 and 7 as to effect this

page_text: aroresaid movement but when the arms C and D are moved with or by their weights
this arm of the lever F is not lifted.
Above the lever F an horizontal partition His fitted on the casing wherethrough
the spindle A passes and on this partition His fitted a table K preferably as shewn of
an annular shape but with a certain segment cut thereoff and in the centre of this
table K and on a level therewith is an horizontal disc L secured to the spindle A on
or in which disc L are formed a number of radial compartments L' corresponding
to the radial teeth B' on the disc B hereinbefore described in each of which compart
ments L' a suitable holder for the fog or other signal can be inserted and secured and
these compartments L' are so fitted it may be with vertical sliding pins M or with
other suitable appliances that the holders M' which may be small metal plates
stamped out into the proper shapes can easily and quickly be placed and secured in
position as is shewn in Figures 1 and 2 and as easily and quickly be removed therefrom
and the bolt F herein before described passes up through the partition H and can
engage one of a number of suitable studs formed on the underside of the disc L or
otherwise by any usual and suitable appliances can lock the same as also the spindle A
in as many positions as there are compartments L'.
A suitable box N provided with an hinged lid can enclose this part of the apparatus
above the partition H and a certain part of the back of the box constitutes a shutter R
which is so fitted in any usual or convenient manner that it can be opened and closed
or can slide up and down being connected for that purpose to and actuated by the
inner end of the rocking lever F so that when necessary an opening can be created.
in the back of the box N on a level with the table K or thereabouts as is shewn in
Figure 5.
This apparatus is placed in the desired position near the rail P with its back towards
the same in such wise that the upper surface of the rail P is on a level with the table K
and the lower arm C can be connected with the signal lever in the signal box and
the upper arm D if any with another lever therein if and when the apparatus is to be
operated therefrom or the apparatus can be operated in the same manner from any
other station or position as may be desired.
The action of this apparatus hereinbefore described according to its simplest
arrangement and the method of using the same are as follows.
The compartments L' of the disc L are duly loaded with the desired signals which
project therefrom radially on their holders M and rest on the table K and when the
arm C is moved against its weight from its normal position shewn in Figures 3 and 5
it first through the block G and the tumbler F2 engages and lifts, the weighted arm
of the rocking lever F whereby the locking bolt F is lowered and the disc Land
spindle A released and the shutter R is opened and then the dog or ratchet C comes
off the ledge E and engaging a tooth B' of the disc B causes the same with the spindle A
and the disc L to revolve until a signal passes through the open back of the box N and
rests on the rail P as is shewn in Figure 1 when this arm Chas reached the opposite end
of its guide and the weighted arm of the lever F being released falls into its normal
position again locking the disc Land closing the shutter R and the signal remains on
the rail P ready to be exploded by the pressure of the wheel that passes along the
same or otherwise as may be arranged for and the arm C can be released and allowed
to return to its normal position being drawn thereinto by its weight or otherwise and
as is aforesaid during this movement the rocking lever F is not affected and then
when desired the cycle of operations hereinbefore described can be repeated and so on
until all the signals have been exploded when the disc L can be again loaded therewith.
According to this arrangement it is obvious that the spindle A with its discs B and L
can only be revolved in the one direction and it may oftentimes be desirable as for
example when a signal has been exploded and another signal has been placed on the
rail that the spindle A with its discs B and L should be capable of being revolved in
the opposite direction also so that this non-exploded signal may be retired and the
exploded signal may be replaced on the rail whereby this apparatus is practically
put out of action as no detonation will be effected and it is with and for this object

page_text: that I preferably as is aforesaid fit another arm D and the action of this complete
apparatus hereinbefore described and shewn in the accompanying drawing and the
method of using the same are as follows.
The normal positions of the arms C and D are as aforesaid at opposite ends of their
guides as is shewn in Figures 3 and 5 and the lower arm C is actuated and operates
in manner as hereinbefore described and in this position at the same end of the guides
as is the upper arm D it is obvious that this arm D cannot be moved by reason of the
block Gon the arm C which locks the same but when as aforesaid this arm C is
allowed to return to its normal position the arm D is released and can be moved against
its weight from its normal position shewn in Figures 3 and 5 and in a similar manner
it first through the block and the tumbler F³ engages and lifts the weighted arm
of the rocking lever F whereby the locking bolt is lowered and the disc Land
spindle A released and the shutter R is opened and then the dog. or ratchet D' comes-
off the ledge E and engaging a tooth B' of the disc B causes the same with the spindle A
and the disc L to revolve in the opposite direction until the signal that had been
placed on the rail is retired therefrom when this arm D has reached the opposite end
of its guide and the weighted arm of the lever F being released falls into its normal
position again locking the disc L and closing the shutter R and the arm D can be
released and allowed to return to its normal position being drawn thereinto by its
weight or otherwise and as is aforesaid during this movement. the rocking lever Fis
not affected and then when desired the arm C can be actuated in manner as is herein-
before described.
I have thus described and I have shewn in the accompanying drawing a most
convenient and suitable form and style of my apparatus and of the several parts
thereof and very efficient methods and details of constructing and fitting and
adjusting the same but I would have it clearly understood that I do in no wise limit
myself exactly and precisely thereto for this my apparatus and all the several parts
thereof may be made of such forms and in such styles and be so constructed and
fitted and adjusted as may be desirable or expedient in each particular case.
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. A spindle A carrying a disc B provided with teeth B¹ an arm C carrying a dog
or ratchet C¹ to engage the teeth B₁ and a block G and a.rocking lever F carrying a
locking bolt F' and a tumbler F2 to engage the block G in combination with a disc L
on the spindle A provided with compartments 1 for holding the fog or other signals
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and declared.
2. A spindle A carrying a disc B provided with teeth B' arms Cand D carrying dogs
or ratchets (and D' to engage the teeth B' and blocks G and G' a ledge E to lift up
the dogs or ratchets C' and D' and a rocking lever F carrying a locking bolt F1 and
tumblers F2 and F3 to engage the blocks G and G₁in combination with a disc L on
the spindle A provided with compartments L' for holding the fog or other signals
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and declared..
3. The apparatus for placing fog and-other signals on rails substantially as herein-
before described and shewn in the accompanying drawing.
سمم
1000
HART & Co.