Improvements in Fog and Danger Signalling Apparatus for Usé on Railways and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1895
Complete Specification Left. 17th Oct.. 189-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1895
1
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fog and Danger Signalling Apparatus for Usé on
Railways and the like.
1 SYDNEY CHARLES RUDMAN of Windlestone, Ferry Hill, in the County of
Durham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
Follow's
66
The detonating and like signals generally employed on rhils during foggy
weather are often uncertain in their action, and therefore unreliable and risky,
a Danger
they do not distinguish clearly or at all between a "Chution" and
signal, they require constant attention, and in 'most cases there is ho provision for
enabling the guard in the rear of the train, or tram or other vehicle running on a
rail or rails, to hear the signal equally as well as the driver or conductor.
Now by my present invention seek to obviate all these disadvantages and
provide a gong signal of simple and cheap construction, not liable to get out of
order, and strongly built so as to stand the heavy wear and tear to which signals of
this nature are necessarily subjected, and one which can be heard equally well by
both driver and guard or at any part of the train.
1
i'
A further advantage accruing from the use of my invention is that it can always
be worked in connection with the semaphore or equivalent from the ordinary signal
box so as to be set at "Danger" or "Caution" as may be required, and should
anything go wrong with the ordinary signal the apparatus will always go 'to
Danger.' When the line is clear, my improved apparatus can be thrown entirely
out of gear so that it need not be in working nse unless actually required thus
saving unnecessary wear.
66
"
My present signalling apparatus consists of a hed-plate fixed firmly in the ground
at a short distance from the onter edge of one of the rails and carrying an upright
standard or framework of metal upon which is mounted a gong or equivalent and
pivotted at a suitable point near the bed-plate is a segmental disc, plate or frame
carrying another gong and capable of being swung in a vertical plane so as to
bring its gong iminediately above the other gong or away therefrom when desired
as described hereafter.
In front of the gongs are supports forming bearings for a small shaft upon which
is mounted rigidly a hammer capable of striking alternately the two gongs when
the latter are in a certain position by means of a slotted crank projecting from said
shaft and caused, to move to and fro by means of a crosshead or projections
engaging in the slot and carried upon a reciprocating horizontal rod sliding in
a suitable bearing and the further end of which is continued forwardly, under-
neath the rail and pivotted to one end of a curved rail or frame situated in the
four foot" and hinged at its further cud to one of the sleepers. Said curved
rail, when the apparatus is in a working position; touches (or nearly touches)
the inner side of the rail (being on the same level therewith) and inay be kept
normally so by means of a buffer, spring, or balance weight.
The segmental disc before mentioned is controlled automatically from the arm
of the semaphore by a connecting wire br the like or, if preferred, directly
from the signal box or other station; and in such a way, thit when the line is
signalled as "Blocked" or at "Danger," the segmental disc Bearing the upper
goug will be in its vertical position so that the hammer if actuated would strike

page_text: 2
both of the gongs producing a series of successively alternate sounds, for which
purpose one of the said gongs, say the fixed or lower one, is made to give a
deeper tone than the upper moveable one...
'" Caution signal is employed, the semaphore will cause
the segmental disc to be turned so that the hammer will only be able to strike the
lower or deep toned gong..
On systems where a
"
The train or the like is caused to operate the device as follows: The flange
of each wheel passing on the rail adjacent to the apparatus passes between said
frail and the curved rail or frame touching (or adjacent to) the same, imparting
to the latter an oscillatory motion, the number of oscillations depending upon
the number of wheels passing the point of impact (or adjacency), and the
hammer, is thus caused to strike the gong or gongs by means of the slotted
crank and connecting rod.
.
When the line is signalled as "Clear" the semaphore arm will have pulled
the segmental disc still further round and a. bevelled projection, thereon will by
bearing against the end of the connecting rod have pushed it sufficiently forward
to leave a clear space between the curved rail and the ordinary rail in order to
allow a train to pass along the latter without touching or in any way operating
the signal.
In a modification of my apparatus, instead of employing a curved pivotted
rail, I use a flat hinged bar lying inside the ordinary rail, and the flanges of
the wheels on passing depress this bar and communicate motion to the connecting
rod through a bell-crank lever or similarly effective device..
I prefer to place my signalling apparatus on the railway about two hundred
yards below the home signal, thus enabling a driver to pull up his train by the time
he reaches the signal post.
It will be seen that the ringing of the two gongs will be continuous while the
train is passing the apparatus if set at "Danger," and if at " Caution," the lower
gong only (and having a distinctive sound) will be sounded, while, if the line is
clear, the train will pass by without affecting it in any way.
Dated this 8th day of January 1895.
POPPLEWELL & Co.,
32 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Fog and Danger Signalling Apparatus for Use on
Railways and the like.
I SYDNEY CHARLES RUDMAN of Windlestone, Ferry Hill in the County of
Durham, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner it is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
The detonating and like signals usually employed on railways during foggy
weather are often uncertain in their action and do not always distinguish clearly
between a "Caution" and a "Danger" signal, they require constant attention and
in most cases there is no provision for enabling the guard in the rear or other
ortion of the train to hear the signal equally as well as the driver.
Now by my present invention I provide a gong or bell signal of simple
construction, not liable to get out of order, strongly built so as to stand the heavy
wear and tear to which such signals are subjected and one which shall be heard
equally well in all parts of the train. My apparatus may be worked in connection
with the ordinary semaphore or its equivalent from the signal box so as to be set
at "Caution," "Danger" or "Line clear" and in the event of the ordinary signal

page_text: to which it is connected going wrong my apparatus will likewise give thë danger
signal.
In order to more fully explain the nature of my invention I have caused to be
attached to this Specification a sheet of drawings illustrating the same and on
which
Figure 1. is a plan of my apparatus the gongs being omitted also shewing the
portion of the permanent way to which parts of said apparatus are attached.
Figure 2. is a vertical section and part elevation through same on line a―a. one
standard H' being omitted.
Figure 3. is a front elevation of the gong or bell portion of the apparatus.
The same letters of reference apply to each of the figures.
In carrying out my invention I firmly secure to a proper foundation or base at
a short distance from the outer edge of one of the rails a bedplate A. carrying an
upright standard or frame B. upon which is mounted a gong or its equivalent C.
and pivotted at a suitable point, say D., near the bed plate A. is a segmental disc-
plate E. (or frame) carrying a second gong F. said plate or frame E. being
capable of swinging in a vertical plane so as to bring its gong immediately above
the other gong C. or away therefrom when desired as hereafter described.
a suitable
In front of the fixed gong C. are supports forming bearings H. H¹ for a small
shaft J. upon which is mounted rigidly a hammer K. capable of striking alternately
the two gongs C and F. when such are in a certain position, that is, at "Danger
and as shewn on drawing, by means of a forked and slotted crank L. projecting
from shaft J. and made to move to and fro. by a crosshead or projections M.
engaging in the slot N. and carried upon a reciprocating rod O sliding
bearing O¹ if desired and bent as shewn, if necessary, so as to pass under rail P.
and check rail Q. One end of the rod O is pivotted at R. to one end of a curved
rail or frame S. situated in the "four foot" which is hinged or pivotted at the
opposite end T to a sleeper U or a bedplate fixed to a sleeper. The centre portion
of the frame S is so arranged as to normally touch or nearly touch the rail P. at
the point S¹ being kept up to same by means of the spring W. or by means of a
weight and chain working over a pulley and attached to frame S at any suitable
part thereof.
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The segmental disc or plate E remains normally in position at "Danger" by
reason of its weight and is connected by wire or the like with the semaphore
or "Line clear" with
connection to signal box and is pulled over to "Caution
the same automatically or it may be worked independently if desired and instead
of the disc being dependent on its weight to remain normally at "Danger" it may
be pulled "on or off" by chain and pulley.
At the end of rod O is a friction wheel X. and on the bottom of the disc or
plate E is a cam or projection Y. so that when the disc E is pulled over to "Line
clear" the projection Y pushes back wheel X and rod O and so keeps the frame S
clear from the rail P.
The train operates the signalling apparatus as follows. The segmental disc E
being in position at "Danger" and the curved portion of the frame S in contact
with the rail P as shewn on the drawing the flange of each wheel passing over the
rail P. must run between said rail and that part of the frame S' which is in contact
with or adjacent to rail P. and so push back the frame S which returns to its
position by reason of the spring W. as soon as each wheel has passed, this causes
an oscillating action of the frame which is imparted to the hammer K by the rod O
and said hammer strikes alternately the upper and lower gongs F and C and thus
keeps up a constant ringing.
If the segmental disc is partially pulled over the upper gong F is kept clear and
the lower one C which may have a different tone is only acted upon by the
hammer and when the signal is pulled to "Line clear" the rod O and frame S are
pushed back by projection Y on disc E and the wheels pass without hindrance or
operating the apparatus.
Check rails Q, Q, may be used to guide the flanges of the wheels so that they

page_text: may run easily between rail and frame and the end of the frame near pivot R may
have a friction wheel Z running on a plate Z¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is-
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1. In fogsignalling apparatus for use on railways and the like a rail, frame or
switch such as S; situate, in the "four foots" one part of which is normally in
contact with (or nearly so) one of the rails and so arranged that each wheel of a
train running on that particular rail shall pass between said rail and frame or
switch causing the same to be pushed away from the rail by the wheel, the frame
or switch being returned by a spring or equivalent device thereto as shewn by. W.
thus producing an oscillating or to and fro motion which is imparted to a goug or
gongs, situate, outside the rail, by means of a rod attached to one end of frame S
said frame being pivotted at opposite end substantially as herein before described
with reference to the accompanying drawing.
2. In fogsignalling apparatus, for use on railways and the like a segmental disc
or plate such as E or its equivalent carrying a gong and pivotted at a convenient
point to a suitable base so that said disc, may be raised or lowered on its pivot or
retained in various positions, as determined, in relation to a hammer for the purpose
of giving signals of not as required and connected to the actuating mechanism of a
semaphore signal so as to work automatically with same or to an independent lever
substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying
'drawing.
B: The general arrangement and construction of fogsignalling apparatus for use
on railways or the like substantially as herein before described and as illustrated by
the accompanying drawings.
.
17 Wh of Ohio 100,