Improved Apparatus for Railway Fog-signalling.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1899-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Railway Fog-signalling.
I, IVAN ILIJNE, of No. 9, Aleksandrowskaja, Charkov, Russia, 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:
The ordinary visible signals which regulate the approach and departure of
trains at railway stations are not reliable in dull foggy weather as either they
are entirely invisible to the engine driver on the train or else can only be seen
from such a short distance that a stoppage within the prescribed limits is not
possible. In such cases so-called fog signals are used, which consist of explosive
matter enclosed in capsules, fastened on the rails. The capsule explodes by means
of the pressure of the wheels going over it and by its sharp report rouses the
attention of the train officials. These fog signals require special officials who walk
along the track and secure the capsules on the rails by hand. There are however
considerable objections to this plan. At small stations the proper person may
not be momentarily available while at large stations with a great deal of traffic
there is much risk to the workmen in dull or foggy weather, who have to place
the fog signals. The present invention is designed to remedy these defects
whilst enabling the fog signals to be laid from the station preferably at the same
time as the actuation of the visible signals. This takes place in a very simple
manner, by placing angle levers at a suitable distance from the station, to an
arm of which one or more fog signals are fixed. The angle lever can be moved
from the station by means of rods and draw-wires in such a manner that in case
of need by simply moving a lever at the station the arm of the angle lever con-
taining the fog signals is pushed on to the rail, so that a train passing over must
explode the fog signal. Several such angle levers can of course be arranged one
behind another if desirable; also they can be connected with the visible signals.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure illustrates the apparatus in plan view, and
Figures 2 to 4 illustrate single parts thereof.
Near the railway track an angle lever b is arranged in a box a.
In Figure 1 two such levers are illustrated one behind the other which are
connected by means of a moveable rod c.
One arm of the lever b engages with a bar d which is suitably guided and has
at its other end a widened extension d' on which can be placed a thin metal
casing containing the fog signals (four in the construction shewn). The fog
signals may of course be applied to the bar in other suitable ways. The levers b
are preferably fixed on the sleepers as shewn in Figure 1. The bars dare con-
nected by means of the rod c with one arm of an angle lever e, moveable in the
perpendicular direction in a bearing, the free end of which angle lever bears a
heavy weight. On the same arm of the angle lever c a draw-wire f is secured
which wire extends to the railway station and is there fastened to a hand-lever.
The lever b like the lever e, is usually in the position indicated by the dotted
lines. If the fog signals are to be laid down, then the hand lever at the station

page_text: is shifted and this by means of the wire f causes the angle lever e to be set free,
the weighted arm of which is sufficiently heavy to bring the lever into the position
indicated by the dotted lines. In this position the widened ends d' of the bar d
rest on the rails which at this point can be widened by means of an auxiliary
rail.
A train passing over this point will consequently cause the fog signal to
explode. In order to bring the apparatus back to a state of rest, the regulating
lever at the station is pulled over into the opposite position, and the weight of
the weighted arm of the angle lever draws back the rod c, so that the bar d moves
away from the rails.
In order to prevent any displacement of the bar d on the rails caused by the
wheels of the train, a flat cross-piece is fastened to the under side of the broadened
end of the bar d in such a way that when the bar is laid down it lies close
against the rails or auxiliary rail, as shewn in Figure 2 and thus prevents any
sideways displacement of the bar d.
It is preferable to connect the present apparatus with a visible signal with
the object of sparing the fog signal whenever the former can be seen.
The best
is the simple signal illustrated in Figure 3, consisting of a disc and lantern con-
nected with the first of several angle levers b lying one behind the other, by means
of a rod g which assists in the movement of the angle lever and thereby moves
the visible signal as desired.
The connection of the separate parts with each other and also with the station
can obviously be made in any preferred manner.
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. Apparatus for placing fog signals on railway tracks characterized by the
arrangement near the track and at a fixed distance from the station of one or more
angle levers containing fog signals on one of its arms; whereby said device when
actuated from the station by means of a draw-wire or other suitable connection
on the other arm, descends on to the rail to permit the signals to be exploded
by the passing train.
2. The improved railway fog-signal placing apparatus, constructed and operat-
ing substantially as described and shewn in the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 10th day of May 1899.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.