Improvements in Fog and other Signalling Apparatus for Railways.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 21st July, 14-Accepted, 25th Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fog and other Signalling Apparatus for
Railways.
I JOHN ORME 65 Barbican London E.C. Electrician, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists in improved devices for automatically locking the semaphore
arms, discs, or like indicating parts in instruments employed for fog and other
signalling apparatus for railways.
It has more especial reference to the form of apparatus described in the
Specification of Letters Patent granted to me and dated November 28th 1891
No. 20,742 but is applicable to other forms, provided suitable conditions exist.
The way and manner in which I carry my improvements into effect will be readily
understood from the following description :-
.I attach by soldering or other suitable means to the pivoted spindle or equivalent
part of the mechanism, operating the cabin or engine semaphore, disc, drop, pointer,
or the like, a small cam or disc, preferably having a deep groove cut round its edge.
In suitable positions within this groove are drilled a series of holes corresponding
to the positions the visual arm, disc, drop, pointer or the like is to occupy. I affix
by suitable means to any convenient part of the internal mechanism, a very light
spring, this may be formed of a piece of steel or good charcoal iron wire, the end
of the wire strip or the like, furthest from that secured as described is bent
sufficiently and pointed so that it will enter the holes drilled in the cam or disc.
At any point upon the spring a flat surface is formed, and if necessary a soft iron
armature riveted thereto. Above this is mounted an electro-magnet, the coils of
which may be in series, parallel, or any other suitable connection with those
operating the indicating mechanism, or this magnet may be actuated independently,
but so as to effectually attain my object.
The operation of my invention is as follows:-The visual arm, disc, or the like
is moved by its mechanism into a fixed position, the current operating it, or supplied
to the electro-magnet independently, momentarily attracting the spring and so
permitting partial rotation by unlocking the cam.
The point of the spring now traverses the groove until it drops into the next hole
and thereby locks the semaphore in the altered position. In some cases I merely
permit the spring to rest upon the spindle carrying the visual arm or disc; it then
acts simply as a brake and will lock the arm in any desired position.
Dated this 25th day of October 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fog and other Signalling Apparatus for
Railways.
I JOHN ORME 65 Barbican London E.C. Electrician 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 :-
My invention consists in improved devices for automatically locking the semaphore
arms, dises, or like indicating parts in instruments employed for fog and other
signalling apparatus for railways.

page_text: It has more especial_reference to the form of apparatus described in the
Specification of Letters Patent No. 20,742/91 granted to me, but is applicable to
other forms provided suitable conditions exist.
The way and manner in which I carry my improvements into effect will be readily
understood from the following description :-
I attach by soldering or other suitable means to the pivoted spindle or equivalent
part of the mechanism operating the cabin, or engine semaphore, disc, drop, pointer,
or the like a small cam or disc, preferably having a deep groove cut round its edge.
In suitable positions within this groove are drilled a series of holes corresponding
I affix
to the positions the visual arm, disc, drop, pointer, or the like is to occupy.
by suitable means to any convenient part of the internal mechanism a very light
spring, this may be formed of a piece of steel or good charcoal iron wire, the end
of the wire strip or the like furthest from that secured as described is bent
sufficiently and pointed so that it will enter the holes drilled in the cam or disc.
At any point upon the spring a flat surface is formed and if necessary a soft iron
armature riveted thereto. Above this is mounted an electro-magnet the coils of
which may be in series parallel or any other suitable connection with those
operating the indicating mechanism, or this magnet may be actuated independently,
but so as to effectually attain my object.
The operation of my invention is as follows:-The visual arm disc or the like
is moved by its mechanism into a fixed position the current operating it or supplied
to the electfo magnet independently, momentarily attracting the spring and so
permitting partial rotation by unlocking the cam.
The point of the spring now traverses the groove until it drops into the next
hole and thereby locks the semaphore in the altered position.
In some cases I merely permit the spring to rest upon the spindle carrying the
visual arm or disc; it then acts simply as a brake and will lock the arm in any
desired position.
The operation of my invention will be readily understood by reference to the
drawings in which :-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the first described form of locking device
constructed in accordance with my invention, it may be mounted upon the
instrument on the engine or other vehicle, or that employed in the signal cabio.
Fig. 2 is a plan.
Fig. 3 shews the detail of the first described form of interlocking mechanism.
Fig. 4 a modification of the same.
In the drawing 1, are the bobbins surrounding the induced or ordinary form of
magnetic needle 2, which is secured to the spindle 3, pivoted on one side to the
bridge 4 and on the other to the frame 5. 6 is a small double flanged disc secured
to spindle 3, and having shallow holes 7, formed by drilling or equivalent means
in positions suitable for holding the semaphore arm 8 which is also fastened to
spindle 3. at danger as shewn in Fig. 1, or at line clear as shewn in Fig. 3,
depending upon the direction of the controlling current sent from the signal cabin.
9, is an electro magnet and 10, a very light spring wire or strip preferably formed
of soft charcoal iron which also acts as an armature. If this spring be formed
of steel or brass I prefer to solder or attach to it in any suitable manner such
as rivetting a thin strip of soft iron 10' which forms the armature, in either
case the strip or wire 10, is suitably secured to a pillar or equivalent support 11,
its opposite end being bent round at right angles or otherwise so formed sce
Fig. 3, as to engage with the holes or notches 7, sufficiently to prevent any
movement of the needle arising from shaking or jarring action or should the
current fail from any cause. The continuous current enters in the case of an
instrument mounted upon an engine or other vehicle through the brush 12, which
upon entering the protected section is tilted by coming in contact with the
insulated rail or strip 13, by the side of the line, this brush is secured to a
spindle 14, mounted in a frame 15, attached in any suitable manner to the engine
or other vehicle but insulated from it. Upon this spindle are fastened a metallic

page_text: disc 16, and a cam 16¹. A spring 17, suitably insulated is connected to wire 18,
leading to bobbins 1, this spring presses continually upon the disc 16; a vertical
spring 171, suitably insulated is connected to wire 18', leading to electro magnet 9.
and is so fixed as to be in contact with the heart shaped cam when the brush is in
the vertical position that is when it is not touching the insulated rail. The two
outgoing wires 18 181, from the bobbins 1, and electro magnet 9, may be connected
together and to the metallic framing of the engine so as to make good earth
through the rails.
The operation of my invention is as follows:-
So long as the brush does not encounter the insulated rail or strip 13, which is
in electrical connection with the cabin it hangs vertically, the apex of the cam 16',
being in contact with spring 171, but the cabin circuit being broken no current
passes through it, upon striking the insulated conductor 13, the cam is tilted in
one direction or the other depending upon the direction in which the engine or
train is moving, the apex of the cam or the equivalent replacing it, and the
spring 171 being in momentary but sufficient contact to permit a current to pass
through the coils of the electro-magnet which thereby raises the armature 10, and
unlocks the needle 2; at the same moment the current from the signal cabin
traverses the coils 1, operating the semaphore arm 8, which will shew line clear or
blocked depending upon the direction of the current sent from the cabin. The
armature 10, on being released again relocks the arm. When the engine or train
is within a protected section the signalman can alter the position of the arm by
reversing the direction of the current notwithstanding the fact that the needle is
locked; for upon first entering the section the current divides as between the coils
of the bobbins 1, and electro-magnet 9, these being so wound and their respective
resistances so adjusted as that the operation shall take place in the order described.
Immediately upon entering a protected section the electro-magnet is cut out by
the tilting action of the brush and heart shaped cam the entire current now passes
through the coils 1, operating the arm 8, and the increased power thereby obtained
is sufficient to lift the locking spring out of the notch and deflect the needle 2,
carrying the visual arm into the required position.
A variation of my invention is shewn in Fig. 4, in which I employ a spring
strip which also acts as an armature to the electro magnet, the opposite end of
the strip to that secured to the pillar presses upon the spindle 3., or upon a small
grooved disc 6, fastened to the spindle 3.; the necessary pressure for effecting the
locking of the arm, disc or equivalent visual signal or other indicating part of the
instrument being obtained by means of the adjusting screw 19., or by an
equivalent device having the same effect such as a counter balance or spiral
spring.
Although for the purposes of description I have shewn one form of apparatus
by which a momentary current is derived from that passing continuously through
the brush when the engine or other vehicle to which the apparatus is attached is
within the section I do not confine myself to it, as it will be readily understood
that the connections and general design of such apparatus will vary so as to suit
each required set of conditions.
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
1. In apparatus for fog and other signalling purposes between the signal cabin
and engine or train attached thereto operated by a continuous current of varying
direction the combination of the mechanism described herein for interlocking the
visual arm drop or like indicating part or parts when on a section arranged,
constructed, and controlled, as described.
2. In apparatus for enabling the engine driver guard or like official to determine
the position of the semaphore signal the combination of the armature strip 10,
mounted upon the pillar 11, engaging with the disc 6 drilled or notched as

page_text: described and secured to the spindle 3 of visual arm 8, the electro magnet
operating said armature strip by means of a momentary current shunted from
that actuating the visual arm disc or like indicating part when the engine or train
enters the section arranged and protected by a continuous current proceeding from
the cabin by the means and in the way and manner described.
3. In apparatus for effecting the purposes described in Claims 1 and 2 the
modification shewn in Fig. 4.
FRANCIS M. ROGERS,
Agent.