Improvements in Railway Fog-signalling Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Fog-signalling Apparatus.
I, JOHN THOMAS WILSON, of Little London, Rawdon, near Leeds, Joiner, do
hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to prevent accidents during foggy weather by
means of an arrangement of gong or bell signals placed at suitable points, and
which can be placed in action by hand on the line, or from the signal cabin at
any distance by the signalman, and so dispense with the use of explosive fog
signals and thus save expense.
I place within the rail, so as to be operated by the flange of the engine wheel,
and at a suitable distance apart, roach-backed or inclined springs, preferably two
each, having at their undersides a catch, which is immediately over a rod or lever
with inclined catch ends.
Fixed to this rod is a double lever, to one end of which is attached the rod from
the hand signal lever, the other end being connected by a chain to a weighted
lever and to the long-length wires from the signal cabin."
The weighted lever pulls back the long-length wires and raises the signal-cabin
lever when the spring-catch signals have been set. Bell-crank or other suitable
levers are used to connect the hand levers to the strikers of a gong or bell placed
in a suitable position by the line. By connecting the hand levers to the signal
cabin by means of a chain, the spring-catch signals can be taken off, the gong ring-
ing at the same time.
The whole arrangement may be used in connection with or attached to the
present signal posts.
100%
I, JOHN THOMAS WILSON, of Little London, Rawdon, near Leeds, Joiner, 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 my invention is to prevent accidents during, foggy weather by
means of an arrangement of gong or bell signals placed at suitable points, and

page_text: which can be placed in action by hand on the line, or from the signal cabin at any
distance by the signal man, and so dispense with the use of explosive fog signals
and thus save expense.
"
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of my apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1, with bell or gong post in section.
5
I place within the rail A (so as to be operated by the engine wheel flange), and
at a suitable distance apart, preferably two roach backed or inclined springs B, B,
having at each of their undersides a catch or recess C, which is immediately over
a rod or lever D with inclined catch ends E. Fixed to this rod is a double lever F 1
to one end of which is attached the rod G from the.hand signal lever H, the other
end being connected by a chain J to a weighted lever K and to the long length
wires or rods L from the signal cabin. The spring catch signals are set by pulling
the signal cabin lever L¹ to the position S, the weighted lever K pulling back the
long length wires or rods L on the signal cabin lever L¹ being returned to its
central position.
Bell crank or other suitable rods or levers M are used to connect the hand levers H
to the strikers N of a gong or bell P placed in a suitable position by the line.
By connecting the hand levers H to rods or wires T from the signal cabin by means
of a chain Q, and by pulling the signal cabin lever L¹ to the position. V,, the spring
catch signals can be taken off, and by providing a cam R to arrest the hand levers
before reaching their lowest position the signals can be taken off without ringing
the bell and so wrongly signalling any approaching train. A weighted lever W
is provided to lower the cam R and pull back the wires or rods T on the signal-
cabin lever being returned to its central position. When the apparatus is set to
signal an approaching train the flange of the engine wheel engages with and
depresses the spring (or springs) B, which depresses the catch E and turns the
rod D and lever F; this lowers the hand lever H (by means of the rod G) and
operates the lever M and striker N, thus ringing the gong and giving the required
signal to the driver of the train. As the long-length wires or rods L are pulled
back by the weighted lever K on the signal cabin lever L¹ being put to its central
position, the apparatus is immediately in readiness for signalling the next train.
My object of having two springs B B, and in having the other striking parts
duplicated, is to obtain a double or single alarm on the gong as required. When
only a single alarm is to be given, after the springs B B have been set by means
of the signal cabin lever L¹ one of the said springs B is lowered and thus made
inoperative, by means of the hand lever H. The whole arrangement may be used
in connection with or attached to the present signal posts, or where there are several
lines side by side, may be fitted to bridge signals.
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 signalling mechanism consisting of roach backed or inclined springs B
with catches or recesses C, and rods D with catch ends E, connected by rods G to the
hand levers H and to the weighted lever K, and wires and connections to the signal
cabin and which can be placed in action (so as to operate a gong or signal con-
nected therewith) by hand on the line or from the signal cabin (at any distance)
by the signal man substantially as shown and described.
2. Signalling mechanism consisting of the inclined springs B with catches or
recesses C, and rods D, with catch ends E, connected by rods G to hand lever H
and to the weighted lever K, wires and connections to the signal cabin, and arrest-
ing cam R arranged so that the spring catch signals can be taken off from the
signal cabin without ringing the gong, substantially as shown and described.
3. The combination and arrangement of mechanism operated upon by the wheels
of the engine, for signalling by means of a gong or gongs, either by hand or from

page_text: the signal cabin at any distance, and which mechanism can be set in acting position
or taken off (so as not to act) from the signal cabin without sounding the gong or
signal, substantially as shown and described.
JOHN E. WALSH,
Royal Exchange Chambers, Boar Lane, Leeds,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.