An Apparatus for Signalling to Locomotive Engine Drivers. during Foggy Weather.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1881
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Mar., 1892-Accepted, 14th May, 1892.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus for Signalling to Locomotive Engine Drivers. during
Foggy Weather.
HENRY FILDES, Joiner, 123 Kingston View, Hyde, Cheshire, PETER
HIGGINBOTTOM, 3 Henry Street, Hyde, Cheshire, Auctioneer & Valuer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
The apparatus has been invented to supersede the use of detonators, as a means
of signalling to locomotive engine drivers during foggy weather, & consists of a
catch lever held by a bracket secured to the side of a locomotive, this catch lever
is placed so that it may engage with a "trigger," slided into or out of action by
means of the ordinary levers of the signalman, the "trigger" is shaped like an
obtuse pyramid, the apex being slightly rounded, when in action, one of its inclined.
faces is opposite the catch lever on the locomotive, & this catch lever meeting
the trigger, is gradually raised & being connected by suitable levers.& wires or
other attachments to a bell or whistle, or a dial or both, gives the driver the required
signal, when the locomotive has passed over the " trigger "the catch lever falls
down again, & is so constructed that, should the locomotive back over the trigger
in the opposite direction it rises & falls over the trigger without moving the
levers, wires &c. described above. The trigger moves in slides secured to the
sleepers or rails & can be connected to the ordinary signal wires or worked
separately, thus it may be interlocked with the ordinary signals & form a further
safeguard.
Dated this 10th day of July 1891.
HENRY FILDES.
PETER HIGGINBOTTOM.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus for Signalling to Locomotive Engine Drivers during
Foggy Weather.
We, HENRY FILDES of Kingston Brow View, Hyde, in the County of
Chester, Joiner, and PETER HIGGINBOTTOM of 3 Henry Street Hyde in the
County of Chester, Auctioneer, 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 our invention is to construct an apparatus for signalling to
locomotive engine drivers during foggy weather, and is intended to dispense with
the use of explosives for that purpose.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2 is a front
elevation, Fig. 3 is a side elevation of an arrangement of levers, Fig. 4 and 5 are
sections of parts and Fig. 6 is a plan shewing arrangement of stands for actuating
the same.
In the drawing we shew our apparatus applied to the front of a locomotive
firebox in which B is the firebox, in front of which is fitted in: suitable
bearings I the bar or rod C which is connected to the bell R by the ringing of
which the driver will receive the required caution.
In order to operate the bar or rod C we provide the stand H which is adjustable
and the stand H which is stationery, each having inclined faces, the adjustable
stand His moved into action by the signalman through the medium of the
lever Pand the toothed wheel M engaging with a rack formed in the adjustable

page_text: stand shewn clearly in detail Fig. 4. To move tlie adjustable stand H out
of action we employ the weight O attached to the periphery of the pulley N,
it will be seen that when the signalman releases the lever P the weight O will
fall downwards and moving the pulley N attached to the toothed wheel M will
move the adjustable stand out of action.
The operation of moving the bar or rod C is effected by means of the adjustable
stand H and the stationery stand 1 engaging with the trigger or catch F and
moving the lever E connected to the bar or rod C when the locomotive is in
motion.
1
It will be seen that when such locomotive is in motion that the trigger or
catch F engages with the inclined faces of the stands H, H' and moving upwards
actuates the lever E connected to the bar or rod C and rings the bell R, and in
order to bring the apparatus into zero position again we employ. the spring D,
attached to the bar or rod C, or to any other convenient part of the apparatus.
In case the locomotive should move backwards over the stands H, H', the trigger
or catch F is provided with an arrangement whereby it rises over the stands H, H',
without moving the lever E, there being au aunular space cut in which passes the
key connecting it to the spindle of the lever E, this arrangement is shewn clearly
in detail Fig. 5.
When the weather is bright and the ordinary semiphores can be easily
distinguished, the trigger or catch F can be raised out of action by the lever W
moving the bar or rod V which is connected to the curved arm T sliding in the
stud anguided by the levers it will be seen that upon the lever W being
raised the curved arm T will engage with the trigger or catch F and will raise it
out of action, the lever W can then he notched to remain in position by the
plate X attached to the side of tender.
The bracket K carrying the adjustable stand H, and the stationery stand H',
may be fixed to the sleeper either inside or outside the rails.
We propose to fix an adjustable stand H, and a stationery stand H', a certain
distance from each signal post, the stationery stands will always engage with the
trigger, or when the apparatus is in action, but the adjustable stands are only
placed in action by the signalman when he requires the driver to stop, thus it will
be seen that the bell will ring once in passing each signal post if the line is clear,
but if there is danger the adjustable stand will be in action and the bell will ring
twice, giving the driver the required caution.
The bracket G carrying the various levers can be fixed in any convenient
position under the foot plate A and by a little alteration of levers as shewn in
Fig. 3, it could be fixed any distance from the firebox to suit certain types
of locomotives, and in the case of locomotives which travel with tender in front
and vice versa two triggers or catches, one on either side could be used both
attached to the same lever E.
We do not limit ourselves to the use of a bell as a signal, as with slight
modification a whistle could be attached.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manuer the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
The arrangement, construction, and combination of the various parts forming
the apparatus for signalling to locomotive engine drivers during foggy weather,
substantially, as herein set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1892.
HENRY FILDES.
PETER HIGGINBOTTOM.