Improvements in Apparatus for Fog Signalling on Railways.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Fog Signalling on Railways.
We, FRED HOLDSWORTH, of Charles Street, Farsley, Mechanic, WILLIAM
SUGDEN, of Airedale View, Rodley, Mechanic, and CHARLES EDWARD
HOLDSWORTH, of Town Street, Farsley, Broker, all in the County of York, 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 provide apparatus whereby fog signalling on
railways can be much more efficiently performed than heretofore, such apparatus
being so arranged that it can be operated from the signal box or other required
place with the utmost facility, thereby warning drivers of engines and others at
the required time.'
will proceed to
In order that our invention may be clearly understood, we
describe same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar
letters refer to like parts in all the figures.
Fig. 1 is a plan shewing fog signalling apparatus constructed according to our
invention, and Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are detail views, to be hereafter
described.
According to our invention we employ a foundation plate A provided with a
circular boss B, on which is mounted a shaft or stud C. On this stud C is
mounted a suitable frame D, composed of three radial arms, which receive and
carry round the detonating caps on the circular, rail E (as hereafter described), to
transfer same to the rail F. Immediately below these radial arms D and on the
stud C is provided a frame G. having three ✓ recesses in its circumference,
which engage at the required time with spring buffers G₁ G' provided on the
foundation plate A, and immediately below the frame G is provided a ratchet
wheel H. The radial arms D, frame G, and ratchet wheel H are so connected.
together as to move round on their shaft or stud C'at one and the same time, such
movement being effected by means of the pawl J which is mounted at J¹ on the
slide K, the said pawl J being kept up to its work by means of the springs J.
The slide K is carried on the foundation plate A and arranged to slide thereon,
being guided or kept in position by guides K', such slide K being moved at the
required time through the medium of the double-ended lever L, which is fulcrumed
on the bracket A', one end thereof being connected at J' to the slide K, and the
other or free end is pulled or operated, it being connected to the wire or rod M.
The detonating caps N, provided with suitable cap plates N' and turned down
end or projection N³, are placed in a suitable box P as shewn at Figs. 5, 6, and 7,
and are fed intermittently to the radial arms D as they are moved round, by
means of the slide R, such slide being operated through pin R' at the required
time by the arm S, which is actuated by the slide K. This intermittent feeding of
caps N to the radial arms D is effected as follows:-On the slide R moving back
by reason of the forward movement of the arm S, a cap N with its plate N' is
allowed to fall in front of the said slide R, and on the radial arm D coming round
and resting in position in front of the cap box P, the slide R moves forward,
thereby forcing forward the cap N, the centre or hinged part R2 of the slide R,
(during this forward movement) slightly raises the remaining caps above, by
reason of the incline R3, thus allowing the cap plate N¹ to pass over the rail E
into position within the end of the radial arm D, as shewn at Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4,
and 6. In order to prevent the radial arms D moving too far when being operated,
we employ the catch T, which is raised by means of the projecting piece U coming
in contact with the free end T' of the catch T, the said projection U being so

page_text: curved on its underside, that when moved forward by means of the slide K at the
required time, the curved end passes over the free end T', thus depressing it, and
lifting the catch T, whereby the radial arms D are prevented from going too far
when being intermittently moved round.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:- -When it is required to place
detonating cap N on the rail F, the wire or rod M is pulled by means of a suitable
lever situated in the signal box or at any other convenient place. This action
turns the lever L on its fulcrum A', thus bringing forward the slide K and pawl J,
which latter in its forward movement engages with the ratchet wheel H, turning
the radial arm D with its frame G a third of a revolution, when they are arrested
by means of the buffer G' and catch T, the latter having been operated by the
projection U on the slide K. One of the radial arms D is now in front of the cap
box P, and by the return action of the parts, caused by the weighted chain L¹
reversing the lever I and forcing the slide K back into its normal position, the
slide R is moved forward, carrying with it the lowest cap N and placing its
plate N within the radial arm D. The return action of the slide K has also the
effect of releasing the catch T; and by repeating the movement of turning
the radial arms D as above described, the cap N just placed within the
arm D is carried round over the rail F, by reason of the cap plate N¹ being
between the rail E and underpart of the arm D, the projection N2 being at
the same time behind the rail E, thus ensuring the said cap being held and
carried round in its proper position. During this movement, the cap N in the
preceding radial arm D, which has been exploded, also passes round until it comes
to the end of the rail E, where it falls off out of the way.
When it is required that no cap shall be placed over the rail F, the frame G
with its radial arms D is turned until one of the V recesses is caught by the
buffer G2, when the said arms D are in a half-way position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :
1. The foundation plate A, carrying a boss B and shaft or stud C, in
combination with the frame G and radial arms D, which are supplied at the
required time with detonating caps, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
2. The combination of the lever L, slide K, pawl J, ratchet wheel H, frame G,
and radial arms D, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The combination of the radial arms D and rail E for carrying the caps N,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. The combination of the slide K, arm S, slide R, pin R¹, hinged part R2,
incline R³, cap N, cap plate N' and projection N2, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
5. The combination of the foundation plate A, boss B, shaft or stud C, radial
arms D, rail E, rail F, frame G, buffers G1 G2, ratchet wheel H, pawl J,
springs J, slide K, double ended lever L, weighted chain L', wire or rod M,
caps N, box P, slide R, pin R', arm S, catch T, and projection Ú, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
6. The general arrangement, construction, and combination of the various parts
forming the apparatus for fog signalling on railways, substantially as herein set
forth, together with any mere modification or modifications thereof.
Dated this 95th day of August 1803
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicants.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicants.