Improved Means for Fog Signalling on Railways.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Fog Signalling on Railways.
DAVID SCHOFIELD Railway View 24 Penn Street Heywood Mechanic do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention will consist of, an inclined lever or rail to be fixed inside the railway
lines in such a way as may be depressed by the locomotive wheel.
This rail will connect to a lever passing underneath the "railway lines," which
will operate on a horizontal shaft the other end of the shaft will operate on a
vertical rod which will actuate two hammers so as to strike a bell detonator. The
rod & bell & hammers will be fixed on an upright post along with a suitable
arrangement of locking levers in order to control the hammers &c. These locking
levers will connect to a wire which will be controlled from the signal cabin.
The whole to be applied as follows:
The patent apparatus is worked by means of levers, balance weights and wires
and is controlled from the signal cabin, and applied as follows,
In the 4' 0" way of the rails will be fixed an inclined rail or bar of sufficient
length and width, one end of which will be hinged and the other free, fixed in such
a position that the flange or web of the first wheel of a locomotive or train when
running over the rails will depress it, and by doing so the free end will actuate on
a lever supplied with balance weights passing underneath the rails to the off side of
same, and there connecting with a horizontal shaft. This lever will be protected
by a trough.
The horizontal shaft will be of such a length as may be found convenient, and will
run parallel with the rails, to connect with another lever. This lever will operate
on an upright rod fixed to a vertical post or plate, the height of which will be such
as to suit circumstances.
This upright rod will operate one or more short levers, each provided with a
hammer, in such a way, as to be brought in sudden contact with a detonator, in the
form of a suitable bell, fixed upon the same vertical post. Also upon this post
will be fixed a suitable arrangement of levers and balance weights, in order that
the vertical rod shall be brought in or out of action, and locked in a special
manner.
levers.
The accompanying drawing (Sheet 1) shows the general principle of these locking
A. is the vertical rod which is provided with a projecting lip P. so as to allow
the knife edge of the lever B. to rest on. The lever B. is hinged at O. to the
upright post, and is provided with a balance weight C. Secured to the lever B. is
a quadrant shaped plate D. slotted at E. and F. as shown. The slot E. is to allow
the projecting stud G. on the vertical rod to work inside so that any motion of the
quadrant plate will operate on the vertical rod by means of the stud G. The slot F.
is so as to allow free motion to the wire H. as may be required. This quadrant
plate is connected at F. to the wire H. in the aforementioned manner, and also to a
balance weight lever wire at K.
The vertical rod A. is locked when the lever B. has its knife edge resting on the
lip P. and is unlocked when the wire H. is pulled from the signal cabin until the
lever B. is made to allow the vertical rod to ascend.

page_text: These levers being controlled by a wire extending to the signal cabin, the said
wire will be connected at the cabin to the ordinary signal lever by fixing another
arm on the present lever shaft, side by side with the now existing balance weight
arm, or signal arm, underneath the cabin floor, and made so as to be able to
fasten the two together by a suitable screw and pins, in such a manner that
when locked the working of the signals or semaphores will control at the same
time the action of the fog signal apparatus.
It is proposed to place one of the foregoing fog signals at each now existing
distance signal, and one or two such, at each of the home signals. Those at the
home signals to be accompanied at a suitable distance and position by one or
more lamp lights fixed on a vertical post or bridge at a sufficient height to allow
the registered loads to pass. The working of these lights will also be controlled at
the cabin along with the fog signal.
The action of the apparatus is as follows, Supposing the railroad to be closed,
and the ordinary signals against the train the mechanism will then be ready for
work, and a train passing over the rails at the place where the inclined lever is
fixed, will depress it by the web or flange of the first wheel. This will, through
the agency of the lever passing under the rails, revolve the horizontal shaft through
a certain angle, sufficient to pluck down the upright rod. This rod operating on
the hammers will make them strike the bell. Immediately this has taken place,
the levers connecting the signal wire will lock the upright rod and keep it down-
wards, thus preventing any other wheel of the train from repeating the operation,
as once is sufficient. As soon as the train has passed over the rails the signalman
in the cabin will pull the locking levers away sufficient to allow the upright rod
to ascend by the action of the balance weights, and thus bringing the mechanism
ready for a similar operation. If the way be made clear before another train
comes over the same place, then by taking the ordinary signals off, as they do
the locking levers are also pulled back sufficient to draw down the upright
rod and thus depress the inclined lever so that it is out of the way of the next
passing train.
now,
The bell detonator herein specified has to act in place of the now used explo-
sive caps, which are placed on the lines by men who are engaged specially for that
purpose.
The present practice of signalling is, that if the distance signal is against a train,
the said train slows down speed until it arrives at the home signal, when, if
that is also against the train it comes to a standstill, and does not move until
the driver is informed to go on by the man in charge of the home signal when
fogging. This information is proposed to be given by the aforesaid lights, same
being placed so near the engine that a driver cannot miss but see them.
The bell detonators before mentioned will be so designed as to give an alarm quite
loud enough to a passing train at any speed.
SUMMARY.
The Patent herein specified bas been invented for the purpose of reducing the
danger and loss to life, also to reduce the enormous expense to railway companies
incurred by the present method of fogging, and be a means of keeping more accurate
time, as great loss of time is experienced through the system now in practice on
account of it being so imperfect. Therefore the improved method will add to the
comfort of people in travelling as well as safety.
Dated this 21st day of February 1895

page_text: шсацю FOT 108 DIцанце on nal ways.
DAVID SCHOFIELD 24 Penn Street Heywood Mechanic 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 patent apparatus is worked by means of levers, balance weights and wires,
and is controlled from the signal cabin, and applied as follows:-
Referring to drawings; Sheets 1, 2 and 3. In the 4'-0" way of the rails will
be fixed an inclined rail or bar L of sufficient length and width, one end of which
will be hinged, and the other free, fixed in such a position that the flange or web of
the first wheel of a locomotive or train when running over the rails will depress it,
and by so doing, the free end will actuate on a lever N passing underneath the rails
to the off side of same, and there connecting with a horizontal shaft M supplied
with balance weight R.
This lever will be protected by a trough (not shown).
The horizontal shaft M will be of such a length as may be found convenient, and
will run parallel with the rails to connect with another lever W. This lever will
operate on a vertical rod C fixed to a vertical post or plate A. the height of which
will be of such as to suit circumstances.
This vertical rod C. will operate one or more short levers G. and G¹ each
provided with a hammer head in such a way, as to be brought in sudden contact
with a detonator in the form of a suitable bell B. fixed on the same vertical post,
also on this post will be fixed a suitable arrangement of levers and balance weights, in
order that the vertical rod shall be brought in or out of action, and locked in a
special manner.
These levers being controlled by a wire Q. extending to the signal cabin, and
the said wire will be connected at the cabin to the ordinary signal lever S. by
fixing another arm T. on the present lever shaft, side by side with the now existing
balance weight arm, or signal arm, underneath the cabin floor, and made so as to
be able to fasten the two together by a suitable screw and pins at Y. in such a
manner that when locked the working of the signals or semaphores will control at
the same time the action of the fog signal apparatus.
It is proposed to place one of the foregoing fog signals at each now existing
distance signals, and one or two such at each of the home signals. Those at the
home signals to be accompanied at a suitable distance and position by one or more
lamp lights fixed on a vertical post or bridge at a sufficient height to allow the
registered loads to pass. The working of these lights will also be controlled at the
cabin along with the fog signal.
The action of the apparatus is as follows,
Supposing the railroad to be closed, and the ordinary signal against the train,
the mechanism will then be ready for work, and a train passing over the rails at
the place where the inclined lever L. is fixed, will depress it by the web or flange
of the first wheel.
This will, through the agency of the lever N. passing underneath the rails,
revolve the horizontal shatt M. through a certain angle sufficient to pull down the
vertical rod C. This rod operating the hammers G. and G' will make them strike
the bell B. Immediately this has taken place, the levers D. and E. connecting to
the signal wire Q. will lock the vertical rod and keep it downwards, thus preventing
any other wheel of the train repeating the operation, as once is sufficient.
As soon
as the train has passed over the rails, the signalman in the cabin will pull the
locking levers D. and E. away sufficient to allow the vertical rod to ascend by the
action of the balance weight R. and thus bringing the mechanism ready for a
similar operation. If the way be made clear before another train comes over the

page_text: same place, then by taking the ordinary signal off, as they do now, the locking
levers are also pulled back sufficient to draw down the vertical rod C by means of
the quadrant shaped lever E. coming in contact with the pin P. which pin is securely
connected to the said vertical rod, and thus depress the inclined lever L. through
the agency of the levers W. and N. and shaft M. so that it is out of the way of
the next passing train.
The bell detonator B. herein specified has to act in place of the now used
explosive caps, which are placed on the lines by men who are engaged specially for
that purpose.
The present practice of signalling is, that if the distance signal is against a train,
the said train slows down speed until it arrives at the home signal, when, if that is
also against the train, it comes to a standstill and does not move until the driver is
informed to go on by the man in charge of the home signal when fogging.
This information is proposed to be given by the aforesaid lights, same being
placed so near the engine, that the driver cannot miss but see them.
The bell detonators before mentioned will be so designed as to give an alarm
quite loud enough to a passing train at any speed.
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.
An apparatus invented for the purpose of obtaining a more accurate and
punctual method of fog signalling by reason of same being worked by the first
wheel of any locomotive or other vehicle passing over the rails, and controlled from
the signal cabin simultaneously with the semaphores as described in the foregoing
Specification, and that same may be accomplished at any distance from the inclined
bar in the 4' 0" way.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1895
DAVID SCHOFIELD.