Improvements in or relating to Fog Signalling Apparatus for Railways.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Fog Signalling Apparatus for
Railways.
CHARLES REVELLE, 7, Hardy Terrace, Wood Green, Engineer and Machinist, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:―
To be worked by a lever in the signal box connected to wires running on wheels or
cranks to a toothed chain wheel at the signal post.
A cylinder inside of which is a second cylinder or container with shelves & openings
for holding the detonators.
A toothed slide fixed to the inner cylinder & coming through a slide on the
outside cylinder.
A cog wheel fixed to a spindle to work on the outside cylinder for working in the
tootbed slide of the inner cylinder.
A bevelled cog wheel fixed to the other end of the above spindle working in a
bevelled cog wheel fixed to a perpendicular hollow rod worked by the chain wheel to
which is fixed a pair of jaws or holders for taking the detonators from the container
out of an opening in it when turned round by the lever for that purpose.
A perpendicular solid rod working on centres, to which is fixed a ratchet wheel, so
that when the jaws are turned round to take up an detonator it does not take the solid
rod with it; a bevelled wheel so that the detonator holder is turned round with the
explosive to the line, a catch on the hollow rod engages with the ratchet wheel, &
the bevelled wheel engages with the bevelled wheel connected to the cylinder &
moves it downward to the next opening in it, to be ready, (when turned round again)
with the next explosive.
A wire to run from the lever to the bottom jaw of the holder which is kept open by
a spring & when the holder is turned by the lever to the opening in the container
the wire is drawn up by the signalınan & placed on a catch made for it on the lever
which closes the bottom jaw to the top one taking hold of the detonator & holding
it while being turned by the lever to the line, & until the train has passed over it;
on turning the lever to take up another detonator the wire is taken from the catch on
the lever & the used detonator drops to the ground.
Two chain wheels can be fixed to the explosive holder to turn the detonator holder
alongside of it, & two chain wheels to that, so that the home & distant signals
are turned by the same lever & of course 1, 2, 3, or 4 detonators can be put on
the line by making use or otherwise of the wires attached to draw up the
bottom jaw.
The train may be started if stopped by the detonators by an electric bell either in
the guards brake or placed near the detonator holder.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Fog Signalling Apparatus for
Railways.
I, CHARLES REVELLE, of 7, Hardy Terrace, High Road, Wood Green, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer and Machinist, 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 relates to fog-signalling apparatus for railways, and has for its object
the construction of mechanism which will enable the signal-man to place detonators
on the rail by operating suitable levers in his cabin.
A rod, or arm, carrying at one end a pair of jaws or nippers, is pivotted at the other
end on a vertical axis. The rod is so arranged that by pulling a wire, cord, chain, or
the like, it can be caused to sweep round through an arc of a circle, one end of this
are being situated beneath a vertical hopper for the detonators, the other end of the
are terminating close to the rail head. The jaws at the end of the pivotted rod can
be operated by pulling a second wire, so that they will close upon a projecting tongue
attached to each detonator which is then, by the movement of the rod, drawn out
from the bottom of the hopper and carried round and deposited on the rail, where it
is held until the train has passed over it.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a plan of the apparatus,
Figure 2 is an elevation partly broken away,
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,
Figure 4 is a plan of the apparatus arranged for placing two detonators upon the
rail,
Figure 5 is an elevation of the same partly broken away,
Figure 6 is a sectional elevation on the line 6-6 of Figure 5,
Figure 7 is an elevation of the operating lever,
Figure 8 is another elevation of the same viewed at right angles to the plane of
Figure 7.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A rod or arm A of suitable cross-section is provided at one end with a pair of jaws
or nippers B B¹, and at the other with a boss A¹, to which is rigidly attached or upon
which is formed a drum C. The boss A¹ is bored for the reception of a pivot pin
projecting upwards from a boss D¹, which is firmly attached to the ground or to a
suitable base piece. The arm A thus mounted can be rotated on the pivot pin by
pulling on a wire, cord, chain or the like E, which passes round the drum C. The
movable member B of the jaws B B is provided with a tail lever B², the end of which
lies over the pivot pin D, so that by pulling vertically on a wire For the like attached
to the end of the lever, the jaws can be closed whatever the position occupied by the
rod A.
A suitable hopper G, in which is kept a store of detonators, is so placed that
when the arm A is brought round opposite to it, the jaws B B¹ will lie just within
the bottom of the receptacle in a position to enable them, when closed, to lay hold
of a tongue H¹ with which each detonator His provided. The whole apparatus is so
placed relatively to one of the rails J that when the rod A is swung away from the
hopper G, after the jaws B B have laid hold of a detonator, the latter will be carried
round and held over the surface of the rail J, the jaws lying just clear of the
rail head.

page_text: The hopper G may conveniently be of tubular form, of a cross-section very similar
to a key-hole, this shape accommodating the circular detonators H with their
tongues H¹. With this arrangement the detonators lie one upon the other, the
bottom-most resting upon a plate K, which forms an extension of the lower part of an
arc-shaped guide K³, which serves mainly for the purpose of protecting the detonator
as it is being transferred from the receptacle to the rail. The guide K¹ is preferably
of U cross-section as shown in Figure 3, so that the detonator is well shielded from
contact with foreign substances in its passage to the rail.
The mechanism is so arranged that the rotation of the arm A in one direction is
brought about by pulling on a wire E, the return movement being accomplished
conveniently by a balance weight (not shown in the drawings) attached to the
wire E', though springs or other means may be employed for this purpose. A spring B³
causes the jaws B B to open when the wire F controlling them is released. This
wire F is led away under a pulley L carried on a bracket D2, which, as shown in
Figure 3, may be formed in one piece with the boss D¹, the bracket being
extended over the boss D so as to form a bearing for the upper end of the pivot
pin D.
Where it is desired to have an apparatus which will enable two detonators to be
deposited on the rail in proximity to each other, two arms A are arranged on vertical
pivots in the same manner as previously described, but only one of them is provided
with a drum C and operating wires E and E¹. These wires are made to operate the
two arms by mounting upon the bosses A¹ toothed wheels C¹ which engage with one
another, thus the two rods A will simultaneously sweep round between their respective
detonator hopper G and the rail J. In order however to enable only one detonator to be
deposited on the rail if desired, the levers B32 for operating the jaws B are controlled
by separate wires F, each led under a separate pulley L as shown in Figure 6. In
order to prevent these wires from fouling each other, one of the levers B2 is carried
up slightly higher than the other, and the pulley over which its wire runs is arranged
so as to allow the wire to run away above that controlling the other lever B2; this
arrangement is clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6. Thus it will be seen that though
both rods A are always moved, they need not both be caused to carry to and deposit
detonators on the rail J, unless both the wires operating the jaws of the respective
levers have been pulled when the arms were opposite to the detonator receptacles.
It will be readily understood that the duplicate arms A can be arranged to deposit
detonators at any desired distance apart on the rail by the employment of suitable
gearing; thus the motion from the rod which receives motion in the first instance
The necessity
may be transmitted by chain gearing to the second pivoted rod.
for causing the two rods to sweep round in opposite directions will not in this case
arise provided the pivot points are situated sufficiently far apart to allow of one arm
sweeping clear of the pivot of the other. Such an arrangement merely amounts to
a duplication of the construction shown and described in reference to Figures 1, 2
and 3.
It will readily be understood that any number of apparatus such as above described
may be geared together if desired, thus enabling more than two detonators to be
deposited upon the rail when required.
For the purpose of operating the above described apparatus it is convenient to
bave a special lever in the signal-box for controlling each set of apparatus, though it
will be understood that by suitably modifying the existing signal levers, they may be
constructed to perform the double duty of depositing detonators on the line in
addition to moving the signal arms in the usual way. The lever as hereinafter
described and illustrated in reference to Figures 7 and 8, is intended solely for
controlling the fog-signalling apparatus.
The lever M is pivoted at N, and provided with some form of handle M¹, catch
mechanism M², and quadrant O, such as are usually employed with the ordinary forms
of signalling apparatus. At the bottom of the lever M, as near as possible to the
pivot point N, is arranged a pulley P, over which is carried the wire F for controlling

page_text: the movement of the jaw B of the fog-signalling apparatus. After passing round
the pulley P the wire F is carried up and attached to one arın Q of a bell crank lever
pivoted at R on one side of the lever M. The second arm Q₁ of the bell crank lever
forins à handle, by pressing which against the handle M¹ of the main lever the wire F
can be pulled and the jaw B closed.
It is obvious that some means must be provided for holding the lever handle Q¹ in
proximity to the handle M¹ so as to maintain the pull on the wire F and keep the
jaws B B closed upon the tongue H' of the detonator, and a convenient way of doing
this is to pivot a ring such as S to the top of the handle M¹ so that it may be
dropped over the end of the lever Q, and thus hold the latter in the required
position.
Where only a single apparatus such as described in reference to Figures 1, 2
and 3, is employed, the lever M only carries a single pulley P and lever QQ, but
where a double apparatus such as described in reference to Figures 4, 5, and 6 is
used, the apparatus for operating the jaws is duplicated. This duplicate arrange-
iment is shown in Figures 7 and 8, where one of the levers Q Q is shown in the
position occupied by it when the detonator-holding jaws are in operation, the other
lever being shown in its normal position. The wire E for bringing about the
movement of the pivotted arm or arms A, may be attached to the lever M at any
convenient point, while it will of course be understood that both this wire and the
wires F may be led away round any suitable arrangement of pulleys in their passage
between the signal-box and the fog-signalling apparatus. It will also be appreciated
that any form of compensating and adjusting apparatus may be introduced for the
purpose of regulating the tension of one or all of the wires.
The operation of the complete apparatus is as follows:-The position of rest of
the apparatus is with the rod A swung round opposite the rail J, as shown in
Figure 1, and the jaw B closed, the apparatus being thus in the position it occupied
when the last detonator was exploded. If the signalman now desires to deposit
another detonator on the rail, the lever handle Q is first of all released by raising
the catch ring S, which throws open the jaws B B¹. The catch mechanism M² is
now operated and the lever M pulled right over the quadrant O, and there retained
by the catch mechanism M² engaging with the usual notch in the quadrant. This
action, by pulling the wire E, causes the arm A to swing round and come opposite
to the detonator hopper G, the jaws B B being respectively below and above the
tongue H¹ of the lowermost detonator. The lever handle Q¹ is now pressed up
against the handle M¹ of the main lever M, and there retained by the catch ring S,
an operation which causes the jaws to close upon the tongue of the detonator.
Finally the catch mechanism M² is again operated and the lever M. thrown back into
its initial position, the consequent slackening of the wire E allowing the arm A to
réturn to its normal position opposite the rail J, carrying with it the detonator
which is now held on the top of the rail in a manner shown in Figure 2. This
return motion of the rod A is brought about by the balance weight or spring pulling
on the wire E¹. As soon as the detonator has been exploded, the lever handle Q
is released, and the jaws B B consequently opened, leaving the apparatus ready for
manipulating afresh.
Where à double apparatus such as shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6 is employed,.
and when it is required to deposit two detonators upon the rail, it will be readily
understood that both the lever handles Q1 must be operated and retained within
the ring S, after the two rods A have been swung round opposite their respective
detonator receptacles by pulling over the lever M in the manner above described.
It is obvious that the wires E, E¹ and F may be replaced by chains, cords, rods,
or any combination of these devices which is found convenient.
For the purpose of increasing the hold of the jaws B B¹ upon the tongue H¹ of
the detonators H, the gripping surfaces of the jaws may be faced with rubber, cloth;
wood, or other suitable substance, or may be roughened or serrated as found con-
venient. Also it may be convenient with the same object. to introduce a strong
coiled spring into each wire F at some point in the course of its length, such a

page_text: device allowing a firm hold to be retained of each detonator, without producing undue
strain upon the wire F.
The detonator hopper G may be shaped as found most convenient, so as to enable
the detonators to be drawn from the bottom one by one while allowing the receptacle
to be filled quickly and without risk of accident. For the latter purpose, where the
hopper is tubular, as above described and shown in the drawings, it may conveniently
be provided with a slot G¹ extending up one side from the bottom, this slot
enabling a plate carried upon the end of a rod to be inserted and then raised near
the top of the receptacle. The detonators are now placed one upon the other on the
top of this plate, and the latter lowered as the pile increases until the receptacle is
filled. The hopper may conveniently be provided with a cover or be otherwise
If desired
protected so as to prevent any action of the weather upon its contents.
the receptacle may be made removable and provided with some convenient form of
closure for its lower end, so that receptacles ready filled may be substituted for those
which have been emptied, in place of having to refill the latter on the spot.
If desired the operating wires may be combined with rods such as are used for
operating the points. Such a combination is shown in Figures 1 and 4 where the wire E
after leaving the drum C is attached to the end of a rod. The guide K' in addition
to protecting the detonator in its passage from its receptacle to the rail, obviates any
It will be
risk of the detonator striking the rail head as the arm moves round.
appreciated that the jaws may be operated otherwise than as above described, for
example, their movement may be brought about by means of bevel or worm gear or
screw mechanism. In order to limit the movement of the arm A one or more stops
may be arranged in suitable positions. The stops may be faced with rubber or
provided with spring buffers or other means of lessening the shock when the arm
comes in contact with thein. The whole apparatus may be enclosed in a suitably
shaped casing to obviate risk of its being tampered with and also to serve as a pro-
tection against the weather.
It is to be understood that the constructional details of the apparatus may be
varied as found convenient without in any way departing from the spirit of the
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a fog-signalling apparatus for use on railways the combination with a hopper
containing detonators of a pivotted swinging arm.
2. In a fog-signalling apparatus for use on railways the combination with a pivotted
arm such as A of jaws on the arm and mechanism for swinging the arm about its pivot
and operating the jaws substantially as described.
3. In a fog-signalling apparatus for use on railways the combination with a
detonator hopper of a pivotted arm and jaws such as A and B B¹ arranged and
operating substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. In a fog-signalling apparatus for use on railways the combination with a lever
such as M for rotating for the purpose described a pivotted arm such as A of a
supplementary lever such as QQ₁ carried by the lever M for operating jaws on the
end of the pivotted arm substantially as described.
5. In a fog-signalling apparatus for use on railways the combination with a lever
such as M. for rotating for the purpose described pivotted arms such as A of supple-
mentary levers such as Q Q¹ carried by the lever M for operating jaws on the end of
each arm substantially as described.
6. In a fog-signalling apparatus for use on railways the combination with a pivotted
arm having jaws for removing a detonator from a hopper and depositing and holding
it upon the rail of a guide such as K K¹ substantially as described.
7. The apparatus for placing and holding railway fog-signalling detonators on a
rail substantially as described or illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and Figures 4, 5
and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 8. The complete fog-signalling apparatus for use on railways substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 25th day of April 1898.
C. REVELLE.
Boult and Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.