Improved Fog Signalling Apparatus for Railways.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left 5th June. 1889-Accepted, 13th July, 1889°
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Fog Signalling Apparatus for Railways.
ISAAC FRANCIS TAYLOR No. 1 Prospect Terace White Post Lane Manor Park in
the County of Essex Wheelwright do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
The apparatus is fixed at the side of the line and is provided with an endless chain
the links of which are made as a receptacle for the signals.
The chain is worked by means of a lever worked by the wheels of the engine or
train and places a signal on a platform. Thence the signal is carried off and placed
on the line by a gripping appliance which is caused to open and shut by the same rod
that works the endless chain and is operated by the signal connections or otherwise.
The chain is only advanced when a signal is exploded. The apparatus may be
operated by the ordinary signal connections or by a special wire or rod.
Dated this 21st day of November 1888.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Fog Signalling Apparatus for Railways.
I ISAAC FRANCIS TAYLOR of 1 Prospect Terrace, White Post Lane Manor Park in
the County of Essex Wheelwright 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 for Improved fog signalling apparatus for railways has for its object
to enable the signalınan when placing the home or distant signal at danger to auto-
matically place in position on the rails an ordinary detonating fog signal and thereby
dispense with a special attendant such as is necessary for placing the detonators on
the rail by hand as is the general practice at the present time during foggy
weather.
In fog signalling apparatus constructed according to my invention when the train
approaches a signal set at "danger" it first passes over the detonator and explodes it
and then over a cam piece which is depressed and acts to release the exploded
detonator from the gripper and to traverse an endless chain carrying the detonators
through one division so as to feed a fresh detonator on to a platform which is simul-
taneously raised to receive it, the cam piece being retained in its lowered position by a
catch. When the signal is lowered to "line clear" the abovementioned catch is
removed; the cam piece is further depressed out of the reach of the flanges of the
wheels; the platform is lowered so as to place the fresh detonator in the gripper; and
the open gripper is removed from the rail to the reservoir and seizes the next
detonator. When the train has passed the signal is again raised to danger; the
gripper rotates the detonator on to the rail; the cam piece is returned to its normal
position ready to be depressed by the wheels of the next passing train. If the line is
clear before the next train is ready to pass, the signal is lowered to line clear; and
consequently the detonator removed off the rail; and the cam piece lowered out of
the way of the wheels.
I have described the above as used for the home signal but the apparatus is
evidently applicable without modification to the distant signal.
In the accompanying two sheets of illustrative drawings
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a part of an apparatus constructed according to this
invention.

page_text: Fig. 3 is a plan of the same, and
Fig. 4 is a section on the line C D Fig. 3 shewing in side elevation the detonator
reservoir with feed mechanism.
Connected to the signal hand levers by the rods 1 and working in suitable guides 2
are the sliding rods 3 controlling the various points connected to them. A tongue 4
is provided on each rod 3 so that when either rod is forced forward by the signalman
the sliding rod 5 is also carried forward through a definite distance the signal being
then at line clear. When the rod 3 is withdrawn the sliding rod 5 is returned to its
normal position by the weighted bell crank lever 6 acting upon the roller 7 in the
bracket & secured to the rod 5. The rod can thus be put in the danger position by
anyone of the signal hand levers and returns to the safety position when all the said
levers are in their safety positions.
On the rod 5 is a toothed rack 9 gearing with a pinion 10 on the vertical spindle 11
working in a bracket 12 secured to the foundation frame 13. On this spindle 11 is
mounted the lower lever 14 of a gripper lever having an upper lever 15 hinged to it
at 16 and working between two vertical guides 17, 18 secured to the lower lever 14
as shewn. Normally the jaws of the gripper levers are held together by the spring 19
and so firmly grip the tail 20 of the detonator 21. It will thus be seen that as the
rod 5 slides forwards or backwards the gripper jaws are rotated to the detonator
reservoir or to the rail as the case may be.
Sliding in the gripper lever 14 is a bolt 22 having an inclined feather or rib so that
when forced forwards by means hereinafter described, the upper lever 15 is raised and
the jaws opened to permit of the release of the tail 20 of the detonator 21.
The bolt 22 is held in its forward position until the jaws of the gripper are rotated
to the detonator reservoir by a catch lever 23 fulcrummed on the guide 18 and
pressed into the notch 24 of the bolt 22 by the spring 25. A link 26 has one end
connected to one end of the lever 23 the other being formed with a slot 27 in which
works a pin secured to the top of the bracket 12 so that when the gripper is opposite
the detonator reservoir the outer end of the slot bears against the pin and the catch 23
is thereby withdrawn from the notch 24 the spring 28 then forces the bolt 22 back
into its initial position and allows the jaws of the gripper to close upon the tail of a
fresh detonator.
When a train approaches (the signal shewing danger) the mechanism is in the
position shewn so that the train in passing over explodes the detonator the flange of
the wheel then depressing the cam 29 sliding in the bracket 30 secured to the
frame 13. This motion is communicated through the levers 31, 32 to the rod 33
which strikes the bolt 22 and forcing it forward opens the jaws of the gripper. At the
same time the head 34 of the bolt 22 carries forward the connecting rod 35 through
a limited distance and turns the lever 36 through a certain angle as shewn. The back
end of the rod 35 as it is carried forward gradually falls owing to its being curved
and guided by the bracket 37 and slot 38 so that when it has traversed the required
distance it breaks contact with or slips from the bolt head 34 in which position it is
firmly held by its upward pressure against the underside of the bolt head 34 until the
said bolt head is removed by the turning of the gripper towards the detonator reservoir
when it is immediately forced back to its initial position by the spring 39. After the
rod 33 has been forced forwards it is held in such position by means of the spring
catch lever 40 taking into the notch 41. When however a train has passed and the
signal has been lowered to line clear the feather or cam 42 on the sliding rod 5 passes
under the catch lever 40 and lowers it out of the notch 41 and the spring 43 then
tends to return the rod 33 levers 31, 32 and cam 29 to their initial positions. When
the signal is again put back to danger a fresh detonator is automatically placed upon
the rail as before described. The sliding rod 5 also removes the gripper from the rail
and an inclined cam piece 44 on the bracket 8 strikes the roller 45 on the lever 32
and carries it forward a sufficient distance to remove the cam 29 beneath the reach of
the flanges of the wheels of passing vehicles.
The detonator reservoir and feed apparatus comprises a convenient number of
peculiarly shaped links with their bases 46 joined together by the pins 47 and links 48

page_text: and forming an endless chain, each base piece being shaped with a tooth 49 for
gearing into corresponding recesses in the cam wheels 5, 50. The links are carried
upwards and bent over as shewn, the two vertical prongs 51, 52 descending through
the base plate and serving as guides to the detonator, the inner one 52 of these two
prongs engaging with the projection 53 on the detonator.
The reservoir table is in the form of a flat oblong platform with rounded ends and
having two continuous open slots 54, 55, except at a point hereinafter referred to,
through which passes the prongs 51, 52 and pin 47 respectively and is secured to the
foundation frame 13 as clearly shewn.
At a point in the mid length of one side of the table the two outer rings 56, 57 of
the table formed by the slots are cleft; one side of the cleft being produced and
inclined upwards to form a top guide 58, and the other side being produced and
inclined downwards to form an under guide 59 down which the detonator slides when
brought into the required position above. A vertical strip 60 also further guides the
descent of the detonator which is deposited upon a movable platform 61 by which it is
placed at the proper height for being seized by the gripper.
When the levers 36, 72 are pushed forward by a passing train as hereinbefore-
described, a pawl lever 62 forming part of the lever 72 engages with the teeth of a
ratchet 63 secured to the spindle carrying the chain wheel 50 and carries the chain
and detonators through one step equal to the distance between any two detonators on
the straight part of the table so that at each forward. step.a fresh. detonator is shot
down the guide 59 and deposited upon the platform 61.
This platform is free to slide in a vertical direction on the two pins 64 and is
jointed to a lever 65, the other end of the said lever being pivotted to the lug 66
secured to the main frame 13. This lever is provided with a long slot 67 in which
works a pin in the end of a lever 68 hinged to the bracket 69 the pin being
also connected by the rod 70 and pin to the lever 72. It will thus be seen that as the
lever 72 is advanced the lever 68 is also drawn forward, the pin sliding in the slot 67
and raising the platform 61 to receive the detonator as it slides down the guide 59
and that on the return of the lever 72 to its normal position the platform is lowered
bringing the detonator into the position required for being automatically seized by
the gripper. Beneath the chain wheel 50 is a disc 73 of such diameter that its
periphery bears against the pins 47 the bar 74 of the table being cut away at the ends
to permit of the working of the said disc and underneath this disc is a second chain
wheel or cam 75 on which ride the bottom links 48. The spindle 76 carrying the
chain wheels works in suitable bearings on the main frame and bracket 77. At the
opposite end of the table similar chain wheels and disc are provided on the spindle 78
carried by the bracket 79 on the main frame 13, the inner bar being cut away to
permit of the insertion of the disc as described for the firstmentioned end.
Instead of the lugs 4 on the rods 3 the sliding rod 5 may be operated from the
signal box by means of wires attached to the opposite end of the rod.
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 1
claim is :-
1. Actuating the sliding rack bar which serves to operate or to control the
operations of the mechanism by means of a lug on one of the signal rods and a
weight which forces the sliding bar into contact with the lug substantially as
described and for the purposes set forth.
2. The gripper lever uiounted on a vertical spindle so as to be capable of being
rotated from the detonator reservoir to the rail and vice versa and provided with a
spring tending to close the jaws on the detonator and with means for automatically
opening the jaws when desired to release the exploded detonator and to seize a new
detonator substantially as described.
3. Automatically opening the jaws of the gripper by means of mechanism actuated
by the passing trains substantially as described.

page_text: 4. Automatically feeding the chain carrying the detonators through one division by
means of mechanism actuated by the passing trains substantially as described.
5. Automatically actuating the rising and falling platform on which the detonator
is received previously to being seized by the gripper by means of mechanism actuated
by the passing trains substantially as described.
6 Locking the cam operated by the passing trains in its lowered position by means
of a catch substantially as described.
7. Lowering the cam operated by the passing train out of the reach of the train
by means of mechanism actuated from the signal hand lever substantially as
described.
8. The particular construction of the chain serving to hold the detonators and by
means of which they are fed forward substantially as described with reference to the
drawings.
9. The particular construction of the reservoir table substantially as described with
reference to the drawings.
10. The construction of fog signalling apparatus for railways substantially as
described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 5th day of June 1889.
ISAAC FRANCIS TAYLOR.