A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS TO SIGNAL TRAINS IN FOGGY WEATHER WITH SELF-ACTING. APPARATUS TO COMMUNICATE AND INDICATE INTELLIGENCE TO POINTSMAN'S CABIN OR OTHER PLACES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Henry Lea, of Stafford, in the County
of Stafford, Engineer, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
APPARATUS TO SIGNAL TRAINS IN FOGGY WEATHER WITH SELF-ACTING.
APPARATUS TO COMMUNICATE AND INDICATE INTELLIGENCE TO POINTSMAN'S
CABIN OR OTHER PLACES."
Sealed the 1st July 1870, and dated the 4th January 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Henry Lea
"
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 4th January 1870.
I, CHARLES HENRY LEA, of Stafford, in the County of Stafford,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
• A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS TO SIGNAL TRAINS IN FOGGY WEATHER WITH
SELF ACTING APPARATUS TO COMMUNICATE AND INDICATE INTELLIGENCE TO
POINTSMAN'S CABIN OR OTHER PLACES," to be as follows:-
I propose fixing discs or wheels at any given distance from pointsman's
box, say, distant signal, on the up or down line of railway, also inter-

page_text: mediate discs where required, fitted with studs for holding secure a
certain number of explosive signals, according to size of wheels, the
same to be worked from pointsman's box or other places by means of a
hand lever fixed in cabin. The wheels or discs are fitted with pulleys, a
chain passing round them and over another, the end of chain being
weighted, consequently always tending to pull the wheels one way, with
a pall fixed free to fall at certain times into the teeth on the wheel to
stop each signal in its proper position on the rails for engine to pass
over and explode the signal. Attached to other end of chain is a wire
which runs parallel with line of railway over pulleys to pointsman's
box, and then over a loose wheel, attached to which is the hand lever,
the end of chain being weighted to keep the chain always sensitive.
The hand lever is fitted so that the chain is always at liberty, excepting
when the apparatus is required to be worked, which by pressing the
spring on the top of lever causes the lever to fasten the chain and pull
the explosive signals on the rails at any distance they may be fixed from
the box, at the same time releases the apparatus from communicating
intelligence into the pointsman's box, which is done by the engine.
passing over a weighted lever fixed at or near disc above mentioned,
attached to which is a chain or wire running over pulleys to weighted
lever fitted in cabin, which rings a gong, signifying to persons in charge
of signal box the approach of train, and also the explosion of the fog
signals. As the discs move round the explosive signals advance self-
acting on to the rails, and recedes as the following one comes up to
allow a clearance for engine wheel.
The apparatus also registers each number used in the cabin, by
attaching to chain a belt with the numbers printed on, which revolves
round a pulley indicating the number, used, thus securing perfect safety.
in the apparatus, working correctly.

page_text: .
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by .Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy; in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
5 and grant, unto me, the said Charles Henry Lea, Her special licence
that I, the said Charles Henry Lea, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Henry Lea, my exe-
eutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
O the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
'A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS TO SIGNAL TRAINS IN FOGGY WEATHER WITH
SELF-ACTING APPARATUS TO COMMUNICATE AND INDICATE INTELLIGENCE TO POINTS-
5 MANS'S CABIN OR OTHER. PLACES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Charles Henry Lea, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and.
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said: Letters.
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, tliat I, the said Charles Henry Lea, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained!
in and by the following statement ::--
The principle of my Invention consists in moving detonating, signals
on the rails of railways at any given distance required from the points-
man's cabin or other place, also intermediate ones with duplicates when
necessary, with self-acting apparatus to communicate intelligence to.
the signalman in his cabin that the train or engine has passed the
detonating signal and giving warning to the engine driver to slacken
speed in foggy weather or other occasions, also indicating, the distance
he is from the junction.
Near to or a short distance from the disc containing the detonating:
signals is fixed a depressing lever, connected with which is the self-
ácting apparatus for striking a gong or bell placed in the pointsman's:
cabin with indicators for registering the number of detonators used ;;

page_text: also an indicating signal "on" and "off," giving notice of the approach
of a train, and enabling the pointsman to work the signals. By the
erection of an intermediate disc he will be enabled to prevent trains
passing the junction in case the line is blocked by moving a second
detonating signal on the rail, which would indicate to the driver of the
engine to pull up and not pass the junction until he received the all
right signal.
And in order that my said Invention may be readily understood,
reference is made to the accompanying Drawings, in which the same
letters of reference indicate like parts.
.
Fig. 1, A (to a large scale) shews a plan of the disc fitted with'
advancing and receding studs for carrying detonating signals, also
notches in the disc for the pawl to drop in to secure the signal on
the rail.
Fig. 2 is a plan of grooved circle and frame shewing projection in
circle for advancing and receding the detonating signal on the rail..
I propose to fix the disc or discs or wheel A, A, Fig. 3, at any given
distance from the pointsman's box, say, the distance signal, on the up or
down line of rails, fitted with studs for holding secure a certain number
of explosive signals according to size of wheel, the same to be worked
from the pointsman's box or other place by the movement of the hand
lever B, Fig. 4, fixed in the pointsman's box. The wheel or disc is
fitted with a grooved pulley C with projections to fall in the links of
the chain D, Fig. 5, passing round and over another pulley; this chain
being weighted at the end and always tending to pull the wheel one
way, with a pawl E (Fig. 2) placed above free to fall at certain times
into the teeth F, Fig. 1, on the wheel to stop each signal in its proper
position on the line of railway for the engine to pass over and explode
the signal. To the other end of the chain is attached a wire G, which
runs parallel with the line of railway over pulleys to the pointsman's
box, thence over a loose wheel M, Fig. 4, attached to which is the hand
lever B, the end of the chain being weighted in order to keep it always
in tension. The hand lever is fitted so that the chain is always at liberty
except when the apparatus is required to be worked, which by pressing
the spring I at the top of the lever, and pulling it over fastens the chain
and pulls the detonating signal on the rail at the distance it is fixed
from the pointsman's box, at the same time releasing the apparatus for
communicating intelligence to the pointsman's box, which is done by
7
:

page_text: the engine passing over a depressing lever K, Fig. 5, placed at or near
the disc A before mentioned, which is weighted according to the length
of wire required to ring the gong or bell N, Fig. 6, fixed in the box,
signifying to the person in charge of the signal box the approach of a
train, and also the explosion of the fog signal..
The apparatus also registers each signal exploded by means of a
belt L, Fig. 6, attached to the chain G with numbers printed thereon';
this belt revolves round the pulley O at the same time that the apparatus
is worked, thus giving the number of signals used, and insuring the
apparatus working correctly. P indicates signal "off" and "on," by
being attached to wire Q fitted with notches and rack R and spring
catch to hold the lever K up, which catch is connected to the hand
lever B.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be carried into effect, I declare that
which I claim and desire to be secured to me by the hercin-before
recited Letters Patent is, the new or improved apparatus to signal
trains in foggy weather, with self-acting apparatus to communicate and
indicate intelligence to pointsman's cabin or other places, substantially
as herein-before described and illustrated on the accompanying Drawings,
or any mere modification thereof.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Henry Lea, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.