IMPROVE- MENTS IN RAILWAY SIGNAL APPARATUS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Schofield, of Railway Foundry, Elland, in the
County of York, Engineer and Ironfounder, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN RAILWAY SIGNAL APPARATUS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Schofield at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th April 1878.
GEORGE SCHOFIELD, of Railway Foundry, Elland, in the County of York,
Engineer and Ironfounder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY SIGNAL APPARATUS."
.This Invention relates to certain improvements in appliances for operating
audible signals on railways, or causing them to be operated by the agency of wires
or other connections, with a lever or levers in the signal cabin, actuated by the
attendant; and for this purpose I construct a vertical box or case made of suitable
height and form to contain the ordinary fog signals now in use, or of such other
kind as may be found desirable, either as to size or shape, and just underneath the
bottom of this case I have a travelling slide or table with a recess or a number of
recesses formed therein, into which the fog signals from the vertical case drop
whenever one or other recess is presented at the aperture or mouth of same. This
said table or slide has in the bottom thereof a groove of corresponding size to the
leads or flanges on the fog signals which clip around the rail. Grooves formed
similarly are made in the case also, and in such manner that the fog or the
detonating signal is always presented to the travelling table in the right position
for fastening on to the rail.
The table travels to and fro supported on suitable bearings or guide rollers, and
upon it or other suitable part of the apparatus are formed stop pins and studs for
controlling the distance to travel in either direction of its movement, and for
operating catch or other suitable form of lever or levers which I employ for bending
the before-mentioned leads, and clasping them around or into the hollow of the
rail, which operation is simultaneously effected with the movement of the travelling

page_text: table or slide, the forward movement conveying the signal on to the rail, bending
and clasping same firmly thereto, the backward movement bringing the levers back
into position for operating upon the next at the same time that the slide or table is
in position to receive into its recess another signal from the vertical case, the back-
ward movement being effected by counterbalance weight, chain, or equivalent con-
trivance.
The forward movement of the slide or table is effected by means of connecting
wires to a lever or levers in the signal cabin, and provision is made so that if the
fog signal is not required to be exploded that the signalman can by his lever
operate the mechanism before described, so that the signal will be thrown off and
the next one placed on when required. It will thus be seen that certainty of action
is obtained, and that the attendant has only to operate his lever in the cabin to
effect the placing of the signals on the line as often as necessary.
Or I may construct my apparatus so that instead of placing the fog or detonating
signals on the rails to be exploded by the train passing over them they may be
exploded by means of a movable weight or hammer falling upon them, which is
carried in suitable guides or supports, and which is raised into position for falling
on to the signal by means of a series of connected levers, to one or other of which
is fastened the wire, rod, or cord communicating with the signalman's lever in the
cabin or station, the signals being supplied from the vertical case, and carried by
the travelling table, as in the manner when conveyed on to the rails, only in this
case their transit ceases when they are in position under the aforesaid weight, so
that when the flange of the engine wheel, or truck or carriage wheel presses down
a lever which communicates with one or other of the connected levers of the appa-
ratus, then the weight immediately falls and explodes the fog or detonating signal,
and a loud report is caused thereby, balance weight and lever assist in bringing
back the weight to its original position, where it is held by catch and spring until
again released by the passing train as aforesaid. In the meantime the signalman
by operating his lever has caused another signal to be placed ready under the
weight; or if he has received notice that "line is clear," then he can by operating
his lever a certain distance prevent the action the wheels from pressing on the lever,
which operates and controls the weight or hammer, so that no explosion will take
place, the signal remaining on the plate or bed upon which it rests.
It will be readily seen that by the employment of this latter arrangement of my
Invention that the leads which have to be used when the signals are placed on the
rails to secure them thereto can be entirely dispensed with, as no clipping or
clasping around the rails is required when the signals are placed under the weight
for explosion, and as the apparatus is compact, connected, and takes up little room,
and can be placed near to the rails the sound from the explosion is even louder
than when the signals are placed on the rails. And I may employ a lamp in con-
nection with the apparatus, which is operated simultaneously with the placing of
the signals, and shews " danger" when they are to be exploded, and clear or
"caution when not to be exploded.
"
I may place one, two, or more of these apparatus as constructed either for
exploding on the rails or by the weight at any suitable or required distance from
the cabin or station, and arrange them in any suitable position, and operate them
by means of one wire and lever in the signal cabin by employing cam, tappet, or
similar appliances for communication with the series so arranged.
Another feature of my Invention is that I employ either on the vertical case
before mentioned or in the signal cabin, an index finger or pointer, which will
indicate the number of signals contained in the case, so that the attendant has
always before him the condition of supply in the case or cases, which can be
replenished as required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Schofield in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th October
1878.
GEORGE SCHOFIELD, of Railway Foundry, Elland, in the County of York,
Engineer and Ironfounder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY SIGNAL APPARATUS."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in appliances for operating
audible signals on railways, or causing them to be operated by the agency of wires
or other connections, with a lever or levers in the signal cabin, actuated by the
attendant.
And in order that my Invention may be more clearly understood I have annexed
three Sheets of Drawings, and have marked same with letters of reference.
At Fig. 1 (Sheet 1) is shewn my improved appliance as used to place the fog or
detonating signals on the rails, and exploded by the wheels of the engine or
train.
A. is a vertical box or case made a suitable height and form to contain the
ordinary fog signals now in use, or it may be made to contain other kinds which
may be found desirable, either as to size or shape, and this box or case A is cast
with or mounted upon a suitable bed or plate, and just underneath the bottom of
the box or case I have travelling slide or table B with a recess or number of
recesses or hollows formed therein, into which the fog signals drop whenever one or
other recess is presented at the aperture or mouth of the case A. The table B has
in the bottom thereof a groove of corresponding size to the "leads" or flanges Con
the fog signals, which "leads" clip around the rail C. Grooves formed similarly
are made in the case A, and in such manner that the fog or detonating signal is
always presented to the travelling table B in the right position for fastening on to
the rail C'.
The table B travels to and fro, supported on suitable bearings, or guide rollers may
be used, which can be placed as most convenient, and on some part of the table or
other suitable part of the apparatus are placed stop pins or studs, such as shewn
at B for controlling the distance to be travelled in either direction of its movement,
and for operating the catch levers D, which I employ for bending the leads C,
and clasping them around or into the hollow of the rail C¹, which operation is
simultaneously effected with the movement of the travelling table or slide B, the
slide E being operated at the right time by means of one of the stop pins B' acting
on the lever B2, the levers D' and weight F assisting in the backward movement.
The forward movement of the table B conveys the signal on to the rail bends,
and clasps the leads C thereto; the backward movement brings the levers D
and D¹, also lever B², back into position for operating upon the next fog signal, at
the same time that the slide or table B is in position to receive into its recess
another signal from the vertical case A.
The weight G and chain, cord, or wire G², effects the backward movement of the
slide B; the forward movement of same is caused by means of connecting wire to
a lever or levers in the signal cabin, controlled by the signalman, and provision is
made so that if the fog signal is not required to be exploded the signalman can by
his lever operate the mechanism before described, so that the signal will be thrown
off and the next one presented placed on when required.
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A lever and moveable slide piece H and H can be employed for operating a
vision signal, in conjunction with a lamp, which may be secured as shewn or in
any other suitable manner, and which vision signal is operated simultaneously
with the placing of the fog signals, and shews "danger" when they are to be
exploded, and "clear" "
or caution" when not to be exploded.
At. Figs. 1, 2, and 3 (Sheet 2) I have shewn views of my Invention when
employed or constructed so that instead of placing the fog or detonating signals on
the rail to be exploded by the engine or train passing over them they are exploded
by means of a movable weight or hammer...

page_text: Fig. 1 is a front elevation, Fig. 2, a side elevation, and Fig. 3, a plan view of
apparatus so constructed, and the several letters of reference which I have marked
thereon refer to the same part in the various views or Figures on this Sheet 2.
A is the vertical box or case which I employ, as in the former arrangement
shewn at Fig. 1 (Sheet 1); B is the movable weight or hammer which explodes
the fog signals, and it will be seen that I form teeth somewhat like those on a rack
on the front of same, the use of which will be described. The weight or hammer B
is carried in suitable guides or supports C, and it is raised into position for falling
on to the fog signal by the signalman in his cabin pulling his lever, which is con-
nected with the wire, rod, or cord D, which is fastened to the bell-crank lever E,
which is keyed or secured to the shaft F, and on which are also fixed the levers F¹,
which take under the bottom of the weight or hammer B and raise it up just so
far as the signalman may require, and it will be seen that the catch G will take
into the teeth on the face of the weight B, and hold the same wherever it may stop
in its upward 'movement, and it will thus be seen that compensation of the wire D
by contraction or expansion is provided for; and should the weight B only be
raised three or four inches, it is sufficient to explode the fog signal with a loud
report. His a table or bed, on to which the fog signal is conveyed from the
vertical box or case A. by the travelling slide or table J and placed immediately
under the weight B, the movement of the slide J being effected by the levers K
and K¹, which also actuate or move the table H by means of the connecting rod or
rack L, which takes into teeth of a quadrant L¹ provided on the table H (the
levers, rack, and quadrant will be more clearly seen on reference to the detail
Drawings on Sheet 3). The movement of the table H is required in case that the
signalman has received notice the "line is clear," then he can operate his lever and
prevent the action of the wheel of the engine or train from operating upon certain
inechanism hereafter described, and move the table H by the action of the rack on
the quadrant, and the fog signal is removed from under the hammer B and another
takes its place ready for explosion if required.
Teeth or notches are also provided on the under side of the table H, and a small
catch h fixed in the foundation plate takes into them and prevents the table from
moving in the wrong direction. This catch h is shewn in the detail Drawing at
Fig. 4, Sheet 3, as also the slide J and fog signal J¹, ready for conveying to the
table H.
At Fig. 1, Sheet 3 is shewn detail of table H and quadrant L'; Fig. 2 thereon is
edge view of table H; Fig. 3 shews detail of lever E and levers K and K¹; M is a
shaft which extends from the apparatus to the inside of the rail N, and O is a
lever, which is securely fastened on the shaft M. This lever O is operated upon by
the flange of the engine wheel, or truck, or carriage wheel when the fog signal is
required to be exploded; the action of the same will be readily seen on reference to
the Drawing, Fig. 2, Sheet 2. The lever P, which is held in position by the
weight P¹ when the catch G is in position, and holding the weight B until it is
operated upon by the movement of the shaft M caused by the pressing down of the
lever O by the flange of the wheel passing over it, and the weight P' is relieved
from the lever P, and the rod or lever Q is then drawn downwards, and so releases
the catch G, and allows the weight to fall and explode the signal with a loud report.
I may employ a lamp in connection with the latter arrangement, as in the one
shewn at Fig. 1, Sheet 1, and which may be operated in a similar manner.
A counter or index finger can be fitted to either of the described arrangements,
and fixed in such suitable position that the condition of supply of fog signals in the
case or cases, if more than one be used, is seen by the attendant, as such index
finger or pointer will indicate the number of fog signals used or passed out of the
case or cases.
I may place one, two, or more of the signalling apparatus, constructed as shewn,
either for exploding on the rails or by the weight, and they may be placed at any
suitable or required distance from the cabin or station, and in any suitable position,
and one or more of them can be worked by one wire, and if required the same wire

page_text: دو
which works the ordinary "signal arm' can be attached to the apparatus to work
same. And I can by making the case A and table H duplex explode more than
one fog signal at one time if necessary, or two apparatus may be arranged side by
side.
It will have been observed that by the employment of my latter arrangement of
apparatus that the "leads" which are used when the fog signals are placed on the
rails to secure them thereto can be entirely dispensed with, as no fastening is
required when the fog signals are placed under the weight B for explosion, and as
the apparatus is compact, connected, and takes up little room, and can be placed
near to the rails the sound from the explosion is far louder than when exploded by
the wheel of the engine, and the attention of the driver or stoker is more certain to
be arrested.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and shewn by Drawings
how the same may be performed, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details of construction, as slight modifications may be made
without departing from the main features of my Invention, but what I claim as my
Invention and believe to be new is, the construction and application of mechanism,
operated in manner substantially as shewn and described, for conveying and
exploding aubible fog signals on railways.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Schofield, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twelfth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
WM. WHITEHEAD,
Patent Agent,
Halifax.
GEORGE SCHOFIELD. (L.S.)