A New Apparatus for Fog-signalling on Railways by Means of Detonators.
Year: 1899

page_text: "
Date of Application, 28th Oct., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 28th July, 1900-Accepted, 27th Oct., 1900
!
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New Apparatus for Fog-signalling on Railways by Means of
Detonators.
FRANCIS EDWARD APPLEGATE, 3, Hawthorne Villas, Lowlands Road, Harrow,
Freight-broker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
A new apparatus for fog-signalling on railways by means of detonators.
Constructed for use on railways during foggy weather and at such times as
shall be deemed advisable and to dispense with the services of the fogmen.
To work on the principle
One explosion stop at home signal.
No explosion proceed line clear or any other principle.
To be constructed on a base to be made of wood, steel or any other metal and
to be fixed to the sleepers, or by any other method and at such a distance from
and in such a position to the railway as shall be found suitable, and to consist
of:
Two feeders to be made of wood, steel or any other metal and to be circular
with a diameter of two inches inside measurement or any other shape or size found
to be convenient.
One to be called the primary and the other the secondary feeder:
The primary to be five feet six inches in length, and the secondary to be six
inches in length or any other lengths, and to have an aperture extending from
one end to the other of one half an inch in width or any other width or length
found to be convenient.
The feeders to be fixed in a perpendicular or other position the primary feeder
to be raised six inches or any other distance from the base and at a distance of
two feet six inches from the end of the base at which the receiver is situated or
any other convenient distance.
The primary feeder to have a pyramid shaped cap or a cap of any other shape.
The secondary feeder to be placed at a distance of fifteen inches from the end
of the base at which the receiver is situated or any other distance.
The distance between the primary and secondary feeder to be from centre to
centre, fifteen inches, or any other distance convenient.
The secondary feeder to be in a direct line from the primary feeder to the
receiver or in any other position, and to consist of:-
Two carriers, to be called the primary and secondary carriers, to be made of
wood, steel or any other metal, the primary to work on a pivot placed at a con-
venient distance from the primary and secondary feeders, and to convey detona-
tors as required from the primary to the secondary feeder from the underneath
of the primary to the top of the secondary feeder.
The secondary carrier to be one quarter of an inch in thickness, and to be four
inches square or any other thickness or shape, and to have an aperture sufficient
to receive the detonators from the underneath of the secondary feeder, the top
of the secondary carrier to be raised one half an inch or other height from the

page_text: top of the receiver, the secondary carrier shall slide from the feeder to the receiver
in two slots or grooves, or on any other bearing and to work in unison or other-
wise, and to be connected by a rod and angle iron connections, or any other con-
venient connections with the primary feeder and to convey detonators as required,
from the underneath of the secondary feeder to the receiver at the end of the
base, and to run on or in bearings placed in such position as shall be convenient
to allow the secondary carrier to slide under the metal, to place the detonator in
its position under the hammer.
The primary carrier to run on a bearing, or on a platform itself, such plat-
form to be made of wood, steel, or other metal, and to be curved front and back,
or cut, triangular or other shape the top of the platform being level with the top
of the secondary feeder, and one half an inch below the underneath of the
primary feeder, or any other distance below, the same carrier or part of carrier
conveying the detonators from the primary to the secondary feeder to be one
half an inch in thickness or any other thickness convenient and to run under a
second platform raised a convenient height from the lower platform to prevent
the detonators being jerked out or moving from their position in the carrier.
These carriers to be worked by the approach and departure of trains, light
engines etc., by an extension of the lever beyond the pivot, to allow a movement
of six inches or any other distance.
To consist of a receiver:-to be constructed on a separate base of steel or other
metal, to be made of steel or other metal, or to be formed by part of the base of
the apparatus itself and to be four inches square with a flat surface, or to be
constructed of any other size or shape.
To prevent detonators leaving the primary feeder during the absence of the
primary carrier from under the feeder, a plate two inches by three inches by
one half an inch to be made of wood, steel or any other metal or any size, is made
to slide under the feeder as the carrier is removed loaded with a detonator, by
means of an angular lever, which shall be worked on a pivot placed a convenient
distance from the feeder and height from the platform the returning carrier to
push the plate clear on its return to its former position under the primary
feeder the plate to have for its bearing a tee piece of steel or two rollers slid-
ing on the underneath of the platform connected with the plate through a slot,
or the plate to have any number of rollers or any other bearing and to be con-
nected with the plate in any other manner.
The whole apparatus to be incased with wood, steel or any other metal, in a
manner which shall be found convenient to overhaul the apparatus and oil the
bearings and to recharge the feeders, and to protect the whole apparatus from
weather and any other damage.
A weight to be placed on the top of detonators in the primary feeder, which
shall make contact when the same reaches the bottom of the feeder, which shall
ring a bell in the signal-box acquainting the signalman of the fact that the
primary feeder is empty.
To consist of connections to bring the carriers into action, by depression of
the connection by the flange or other part of the wheel of the engine or other
wheel used on railways, which depression shall cause an eccentric, fixed to the
same axle as the connector, and to work in two bearings of steel or other metal
to push over the lever which is connected by chains, wires, rods or other connec-
tions and wheels, with the carriers of the apparatus.
The one of these two connections which two shall be termed a set, to be placed
one quarter of a mile before the apparatus and the second one quarter of a mile
beyond the apparatus, or any other distance, found convenient.
To consist of a hammer to be made of steel, or any other metal, and made six
inches long, three inches in width by five inches in depth, or any other size,
to be made with a segment head, with a striking piece to be circular, of two
inches diameter and one inch deep, or any other size or shape, the same hammer
to be reduced at each end to leave a tongue of one inch with a shoulder of one

page_text: inch each side of the tongue, the tongue or shoulders to be made of any other
size found to be convenient: the tongues to work in two slots or grooves, which
shall be cut in steel, or any other metal, horizontals placed a convenient distance
apart to allow of easy action, and to be of three inches square, or any other size,
the hammer to be kept in a raised position by means of a lever, and lowered by
the flange or any other part of the wheel of the engine, or other wheel used on
railways: the horizontals to be fixed on a plate of steel or any other metal, which
plate shall have a circular hole, or other shape drilled through it to allow the
striking piece to go down on to the detonator, held in position on the receiver
by the secondary carrier, and thus cause an explosion: the reduced thickness
and the raised position of the secondary carrier will allow the exploded detonator
to remain on the receiver and to be pushed off by the next detonator placed on
the receiver, or such exploded detonator to be removed by an automatic clearer.
The plate carrying the horizontals in which the hammer is raised and lowered,
to be placed against, and to be removed from the metal, six inches or any other
distance by means of a lever operated by the signalman, by rods chains, wires,
wheels, and other means of connection, and to slide in two slots or grooves, or
to work in or on any other bearings which shall be fixed to the sleepers, or on a
base or any other method, placed sufficiently far apart to allow of easy action,
and to be connected by means of wires, wheels, chains, rods. or other connections
with the existing wires or connections from signalbox to the signal, by this
means the hammer is placed over and away from the detonator concurrently with
the raising and lowering of the signal, so that no explosion occurs when the
signal is lowered.
15th November 1899
FRANCIS EDWARD APPLEGATE,
3, Lowlands Road, Harrow.
A New Apparatus for Fog-signalling on Railways by Means of
Detonators.
FRANCIS EDWARD APPLEGATE, 2, Gordon Villas, Gordon Road, Wealdstone,
Middlesex, late of 3, Hawthorne Villas, Lowlands Road, Harrow of Hill, Middle-
sex, Freight-broker, 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 apparatus is constructed for use on railways during foggy weather and at
such times as shall be deemed advisable and to dispense with the services of the
fog-signalmen.
To work on the principle
No explosion-line clear.
One explosion stop at home signal, or any other principle.
To be constructed on a base of steel or suitable material & shape, Figure 3 in
drawings, lettered A, and to be fixed in a convenient position to the rail B, and
to consist of:-
Two feeders C and C1, Figure 3, to be of convenient length, to be of steel tube
two inches in diameter with a slot extending from one end to the other of one
half an inch across.
Two carriers D & D 1 called the primary & secondary carriers, to be a steel
lever at one end of which a plate shall be fixed & in which a hole shall be made
sufficiently large for a detonator to fall in from the primary feeder.

page_text: The primary carrier D) to convey detonators from the underneath of the prim-
ary feeder C, to the top of the secondary feeder C1.
The secondary carrier D1 to be connected with the primary carrier D and to
consist of a steel bar with a plate at one end, with a hole drilled in it sufficient
to receive a detonator from the underneath of the secondary feeder, & to convey
detonators from the underneath of the secondary feeder to the receiver E where
the detonator shall be exploded by the depression by an engine wheel of the
hammer F.
The receiver E to consist of a spring anvil of convenient size.
The hammer F to be an eccentric with a striking piece fitted in a suitable
manner to crush the detonator which the hammer is depressed by a vehicle
wheel.
A plate H shall be placed in a convenient position to support detonators while
being conveyed from the primary feeder C to the secondary feeder Cl...
To prevent detonators leaving the primary feeder C in the absence of the
primary carrier D) a plate of steel I shall be fixed to an angle lever J which shall
fill the place of the primary carrier until it returns to receive another detonator.
The carriers D & D 1 to be worked by the approach and departure of trains,
by the depression of the connections K & K 1.
The depression of connection K shall cause an eccentric L to tighten the
chain M which shall cause the primary carrier 1 to be removed from under the
primary feeder C & to be placed over the secondary feeder C1. The connection
& eccentric to be fixed to spindle X & to work in bearings Z.
The connection K1 on being depressed by a passing train shall reverse the
position & bring the carriers back to their original position.
The connections K & K 1 to be placed a convenient distance from the apparatus.
The hammer F to be controlled by the signalman in his cabin by the pulling
over & pushing back of the signal lever.
During the time the signal is at danger the hammer F remains in its position
over the receiver E, but on the signal being lowered the hammer F is removed
three inches or a convenient distance from the rail thus the passing train does
not depress it & no explosion occurs. The connection with the signal wire is
made from spindle W which works through bearing V.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
In signalling apparatus for railways:-
1 Two feeders C & C 1 substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. Two carriers D & D 1 the former to convey detonators from the feeder C to
the feeder C1 the latter to convey detonators from the feeder C1 to the receiver E
substantially as and for the purpose described.
3 The hammer F which shall be depressed by a passing vehicle '& crush the
detonator substantially as and for the purpose described.
4 Two connections K and K 1 the depression of which causes the carriers to
be operated substantially as and for the purpose described.
5 The complete apparatus for railway signalling substantially as described in
the accompanying drawings.
Doted this 27th July 1900
FRANCIS EDWARD APPLEGATE.