Improvements in or connected with Railway Fog Signalling Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Railway Fog Signalling
Apparatus.
ALLAN STEWART 3 George's Place Cullercoats near Newcastle-on-Tyne,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention which relates to fog signalling on railways, has for its object,
the providing on a railway locomotive, or other part of a railway train a lever, or
other similar arrangement, situate perferably on the top of the locomotive, and
in a vertical position which is acted upon by a movable arm or arms, or other
appliance, fixed on a post or posts, by the side of the railway, and projecting over
the top of the locomotive or railway train, which can be lowered or otherwise
moved into position by a rod, wire, or other means of communication from the
signal box, either by the same act, which works the ordinary signals, to
"Line clear" or "Caution," or "Danger' as the case may be, or by a separate
lever or otherwise, when it is desired to be brought into contact with, and act upon
the said lever, situate on the top of the locomotive. This said lever is hinged or
pivotted at its lower end, on to the top of the locomotive, and is connected by
meaus of a rod with a steam fog horn, or bell or both, on the locomotive, and also
in the same manner, with the engine lamp, in the cab of the locomotive, and by
means of a rope or rod to a bell or signal in the guards van.
"
During a fog, the signalman in the box, brings the apparatus, into work, either:
at the home or distant signal, or both, by lowering or otherwise moving the arm,"
disc or contact piece, over the line of railway, into position, against which the lever
on the locomotive, on its approach will strike, and be moved back slightly, on its.
pivot or hinge, which movement, is communicated to the fog horn, or bell on the
engine, causing it to sound, and continue sounding, until stopped by the driver,
and the same motion is communicated to the drivers lamp in the cab of the engine,
and lowers a slide of red glass, in front of the lamp, causing a danger light to
appear, to the driver, who thereupon, brings his engine to a stand, as required, or the
same lever could be used to put on the brake, independently of the driver, and
thus automatically stop the train.
This apparatus is intended to do away with the present detonator (by hand)
system, and to inform the driver during a fog, of the condition & position of the
Under
ordinary signals, as effectively, as under the best atmospheric conditions.
certain circumstances, the arm or disc, might be acted upon at the rail level, with
the lever reversed & hanging from the engine.
1004

page_text: on-
Improvements in or connected with Railway Fog Signalling
Apparatus.
A
I, ALLAN STEWART, late of 3 George's Place, Cullercoats, near Newcastle-
n-Tyne, presently of 9 Park Terrace, Govan, in the County of Lanark, Engineer,
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 :--
This invention which relates to fog signalling on railways, has for its object the
providing on a railway-locomotive, or other part of a railway train, a lever or other
similar arrangement situate on the top or side of the locomotive and in a vertical
position which is acted upon by a movable arm or arms or other appliance fixed on
a post or posts clear of snow etc. by the side of the railway, and projecting over the
top of the locomotive or railway train which can be lowered or otherwise moved
into position by a rod, wire or other means of communication from the signal box,
either by the same act which works the ordinary signals to Line clear, or Caution.
or Danger as the case may be, or by a separate lever or otherwise when it is
desired to be brought into contact with and act upon the said lever situate on the
top or side of the locomotive. This said lever is hinged or pivoted at its lower
end on to the top or side of the locomotive and is connected by means of a rod
with a steam fog horn, or bell or both, on the locomotive and also in the same
manner with the engine lamp in the cab of the locomotive, and by means of a
rope or rod to a bell or signal in the guard's van.
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 of
which is an end view, Fig. 2 a plan and Fig. a side view of the fog signalling
apparatus and shews a locomotive in position to have its steam fog horn lever,
bell lever or both operated on by the danger arm projecting from the signal
post.
"
"
During a fog the signalman in the box brings the apparatus into work either at
the "home or "distant "
signal or both by lowering or otherwise moving a
contact piece in the form of a wheel A pivoted on a vertical or horizontal axis
over the line of railway into position to act on a lever B situate on the
locomotive C on the approach of the latter. The contact piece is moved into
acting position by means of a lever bearing on its under side and actuated through
levers and rods by the signalman. This lever B is turned upon its pivot D by the
action of the pivoted wheel whose inertia offers just sufficient resistance to
accomplish this whilst by yielding the blow on the lever B is reduced to a minimum
and as the end of the pivot engages with a cock E on the fog horn F said cock is
opened to admit steam to the fog horn; or the pivot D may communicate motion
to a hammer acting on a bell ou the engine thereby causing it to sound and
continue sounding until stopped by the driver. This motion of the lever B lowers
a slide of red glass G in front of the lamp H thereby shewing a danger light to
the driver who immediately brings his engine to a stand. Or the lover B can be
used to shut off steam or put on the brake independently of the driver and thus
automatically stop the train.
This apparatus is intended to replace the present system of detouating by hand
and to inform the driver during a fog of the condition and position of the ordinary
signals as effectually as under the best atmospheric conditions.
In cases where the usual signals are carried on a bridge extending across
several lines of rails the pivoted wheel A may be fitted either on a vertical or
horizontal axis and be operated on by an upright arm on the lever B pivoted on
the cab of the locomotive.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. As means for fog signalling on railways the employment of a contact wheel
pivoted on a signal post or bridge and adapted to be brought into position by a signal
lever to act on a pivoted lever arranged to actuate a signal on the locomotive
substantially as described.
2. The combination of the lever B pivoted on the locomotive, pivot D and
cock E arranged to admit steam to the fog horn F and warn the driver when the
lever B is acted on by a contact piece operated from the signal box substantially
as described.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agent,
62 Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.