Improvements in Fog and other Signalling Apparatus for Railways.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fog and other Signalling Apparatus for Railways.
I, CHARLES CROPP, of 22, Pownall Road, Fulham, in the County of London,
Gardener, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention for improvements in fog and other signalling apparatus for rail-
ways relates to signalling apparatus in which visual signals placed on the loco-
motive are controlled from the signal box and has for its object to indicate to the
driver or other person in charge of the train whether the line is blocked or clear.
In the arrangement of signalling apparatus according to this invention three
cam levers corresponding with the distance "home" and "starting" signals
are placed between the rails at suitable distances apart, and are connected together
and to the lever apparatus in the signal box so that on the proper signal lever
being operated all the cams are simultaneously operated.
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Beneath the locomotive or vehicle are three corresponding hinged or spring
levers having rollers of resilient material mounted on their extremities and which,
when displaced by the beforementioned cam levers close, by means of suitable con-
tacts, electric circuits in which are placed electro magnets which operate corre-
sponding signal arms on the locomotive or other suitable part of the train. By
the same means the electric circuits of signal bells on the locomotive and in the
signal box are closed the said bells thereby audibly indicating to the driver and
signalman the fact of the passage of the train,
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1000
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in Fog and other Signalling Apparatus for Railways.
I, CHARLES CROPP, 22, Pownall Road, Fulham, London, Gardener, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
-
This invention for improvements in fog and other signalling apparatus for
railways, relates to signalling apparatus in which visible or other signals placed
on the locomotive or other suitable part of a train are controlled from the signal
box and has for its object to indicate to the driver or other person in charge of the
train whether the line is blocked or clear. In an arrangement of signalling appar-
01

page_text: atus according to this invention three cam levers corresponding with the distance,
home, and starting signals are placed between the rails at suitable distances apart,
and are connected together and to the lever apparatus in the signal box so that
upon the proper signal lever being operated the corresponding cam will be raised
into operative position; also beneath the locomotive or vehicle are three corre-
sponding hinged or spring levers having rollers of resiliant material mounted on
their extremities, and which when displaced by the beforementioned cam levers
close by means of suitable contacts electric circuits, in which are placed electro
magnets which operate corresponding signal arms or other devices on the loco-
motive or other suitable part of the train. By the same means the electric circuits
of signal bells on the locomotive and in the signal box are closed, the said bells
thereby audibly indicating to the driver and signalman the fact of the passage
of the train. In order that the engine driver may know when the signal arm is
lowered, or the line clear, one or more rocking bars extending between the cam
levers are employed and connected to a lever or levers in the signal box. The
raising of a rocking bar causes it to strike a contact device projecting from the
locomotive and so close a circuit to operate a signal bell and thereby notify to the
driver that the line is clear.
Referring to the annexed drawings,
Figure 1, is a plan view of the ground signals.
Figure 2, sectional side elevation of same shewing locomotive in position upon
the rails.
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Figure 3, view to enlarged scale of signalling device from signal box to engine.
Figure 4. sectional elevation to enlarged scale of indicator upon the engine.
Referring to Figure 1, the rocking levers a, b, & c, are carried upon the bent
levers e which are pivotally secured to a suitable support at e¹. f is a contact piece
which closes the circuit passing along the wires f¹, gl, when the part upon the
rocking lever is moved so as to come into contact with the contact piece f. The
circuit terminates in the signal box in a signalling device such as a bell or other
alarm. The rocking levers a, b, & c are designated "home," distance & "start-
ing, as required, giving corresponding signals in the signal box and also upon
the engine, which is effected by the spring pieces h, which are provided with a
roller or wheel j of resilliant material such as india rubber, and which is arranged
as shewn by the rocking lever b (dotted position). This spring piece is provided
with a cushioning of rubber or leather to prevent the shock or jar when in opera-
tion. is a contact piece which when in contact with the spring h closes the
circuit, the current of which is used to operate discs 1, 2, and 3 shewn in Figure 4,
according to which of the rocking levers is raised by the signalman, this raising
being effected by the rods a, b and c which are operated by the signalman.
When the circuit is closed upon the engine, the electric magnet 6. Fig. 4, attracts
the lever or armature 4 which is pivoted at 5 and so releases the end of the levers 1º,
2" or 3, as the case may be, which levers are pivoted at 1b, 2, and 3 respectively.
The levers 1, 2, 3ª are provided with a projection or knob 10 which works in a
slot 11 for the purpose of enabling them to be brought back to their initial
nosition. S is a pin or stop which prevents the armature 4 being pulled too far
by the spring 9. The circuit is so arranged by the leads 0, 76, 6c that the
current will pass through the bell 7: that is to say when a disc is released by the
passage of the current the bell 7 will be rung, or other suitable alarm sounded.
The falling of the disc will give an indication which will correspond with that
of the signal box, being a suitable casing for carrying the whole.
In Figure the rocking lever n, which is pivoted at 01 to the bars 0 which
are pivotally attached to a suitable support, is operated by means of the rod p
pivoted at to the bar O, this rod in turn being operated by the rod 7 in con-
nection with the signal box. By this arrangement when it is required to give a
signal "line clear" after the locomotive is at rest, by raising the rocking bar
the wheel r attached to the spring rod s is raised and contact made between the
piece and the terminal which are carried in the casing ", x and y being the

page_text: wires connecting the circuit with the battery and bell upon the locomotive. It
will be seen that when the locomotive is travelling, according to which of the rock-
ing levers is raised so will the coresponding disc be caused to give an indication
upon the locomotive owing to the passage of the current, at the same time ringing
the bell or signal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In signalling apparatus for railways of the class herein described, the com-
bined construction and arrangement of the various parts substantially as and for
the purpose set forth and illustrated herein.
2. In railway signalling apparatus: the employment of rocking levers actuated
from the signal box and so arranged as to close or open an electric circuit in com-
bination with a contact making device attached to the engine for the purpose of
closing a separate circuit upon the engine in order to operate visible signals such
as discs, or give an indication by a bell or other convenient audible signal. A
secondary rocking bar adapted to close the circuit upon the engine for giving an
indication as to when the line is clear, said secondary rocking bar being operated
from the signal box, all in combination and substantially as described and illus-
trated herein and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 31st day of December 1898.