A NEW OR IMPROVED SELF-ACTING FOG AND DANGER SIGNAL OR ALARM FOR RAILWAYS."
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Morris, of Tyddynhelen, near Carnarvon,
Engineer, and Thomas Edwards, of No. 12, Newbrough Street,
Carnarvon, Engine Driver, both in the County of Carnarvon, for
the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED SELF-ACTING FOG AND DANGER
SIGNAL OR ALARM FOR RAILWAYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Morris and
Thomas Edwards at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 19th July 1871.
We, THOMAS MORRIS, of Tyddynhelen, near Carnarvon, Engineer, and
THOMAS EDWARDS, of No. 12, Newbrough Street, Carnarvon, Engine
Driver, both in the County of Carnarvon, do hereby declare the nature
of our said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED SELF-ACTING FOG AND
DANGER SIGNAL OR ALARM FOR RAILWAYS," to be as follows:
This Invention has for its object a more simple and more reliable and
efficient means of signalling to the drivers of locomotives than the fog
and danger signals at present in use.
This Invention consists in an arrangement of mechanism for operating
or sounding a steam whistle fixed on the boiler of the locomotive. One

page_text: part or portion of this mechanism is fixed on or carried by the loco-
motive engine, and the second part or portion is fixed or attached to
the rails or sleepers or other convenient portion of the permanent way.
That part fixed upon or carried by the locomotive may be thus
described: Near to the whistle on each side of the boiler is fixed a
plate or bracket piece carrying a sheave or rigger over which passes a
chain. On cach side of the locomotive is carried an eccentric revolving
on a stud in a plate fastened to the locomotive framing, and a lever is
keyed in the boss of each eccentric. Between the lever for opening the
steam whistle and the lever connected with eccentric is a chain con-
nected to both, so that upon motion being imparted to the lever the
whistle is sounded, a spiral or other spring being employed to close the
valve.
That part or portion of the arrangement which is fixed to the
permanent way and which is always connected with the present distance
signal in use, consists of a box fastened to the sleepers and carrying a
lever so weighted that it can be placed in three positions corresponding
with "danger," "caution," and "all right" signals at present in use,
in any of which it can be held. One of these positions is that in which
it is not required for use, from which when it is necessary to give a
signal it is brought over to the rail in such a manner that the lever on
locomotive comes in contact with it, thereby pulling on the chain and
blowing the whistle. By preference this box is fixed at a given distance
from the present distance signal, say, for example, at three hundred, five
hundred, or seven hundred yards, so that the driver can pull his train
up to the distance signal if so required.
When repairs are going on or there is a breakdown the wrought-iron
brackets (without the box) may be screwed on to the rails and thereby
give timely notice.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters 3
Patent, and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said
Thomas Morris and Thomas Edwards in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 27th January 1872.

page_text: EDWARDS, of No. 12, Newbrough Street, Carnarvon, Engine Driver, both
in the County of Carnarvon, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Thomas Morris and Thomas Edwards,
Her special licence that we, the said Thomas Morris and Thomas
Edwards, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
we, the said Thomas Morris and Thomas Edwards, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
" A NEW OR
IMPROVED SELF-ACTING FOG AND DANGER SIGNAL OR ALARM FOR RAILWAYS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Thomas Morris and
Thomas Edwards, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and 'ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office on or before the Twenty-ninth
day of January One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Thomas Morris and Thomas
Edwards, do hereby declare the nature of said 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 has for its object a more simple and more reliable
and efficient means of signalling to the drivers of locomotives than the
fog and danger signals at present in use, and gives a signal to the driver
when the present distance signal cannot be seen.
This Invention consists in an arrangement of mechanism for operating
or sounding a steam whistle (on the boiler of the locomotive) or a bell
or gong fixed on any convenient part of the locomotive engine. One
part or a portion of this mechanism is fixed on or carried by the loco-
motive engine, and the second part or portion is fixed or attached to
the rails or sleepers or other convenient portion of the permanent way.

page_text: In order that the nature of this Invention and the means by which
the same is effected, may be particularly described and ascertained, we
to this Specification append a Sheet of Drawings having figures and
letters of reference marked thereupon, the like letters being used to
denote a similar or corresponding part in each Figure.
In these Drawings Figure I. is a front elevation, and Figure 2 a side
elevation of our apparatus.
That part of our apparatus which is fixed upon or carried by the
locomotive may be thus described:-Near to the whistle on one or
both sides of the boiler is fixed a plate or bracket piece a carrying a
sheave or rigger b over which passes a chain. On one or both sides of
the locomotive is carried an eccentric c revolving on a stud d in a
plate e fastened to the locomotive framing, and a lever f is keyed on
the boss of each eccentric. Between the lever g for opening the steam
.whistle i and the lever f connected with the eccentric is a chain k
.connected to both so that upon motion being imparted to the lever f
the whistle is sounded, a spiral or other spring / being employed to
close the valve. A wedge-shaped lever slides at the back of the spring
when it is opened by the motion of the lever f. This wedge-shaped
lever keeps the valve open until it is shut by the driver by a handle
at the weather board.
That part or portion of the arrangement which is fixed to the per-
manent way, and which is always connected with the present distance
signal in use, consists of a box / fastened to the sleepers or other portion
of the permanent way, and carrying a lever m so weighted that it can
be placed in three positions corresponding with "danger," "caution,"
and "all right" signals at present in use, in any of which it can be held.
One of these positions "all right" is that in which it is not required
for use, as shewn at m', from which when it is necessary to give a signal
of "caution or"danger" it is brought over to the rail in such a manner
that the lever fon locomotive comes in contact with the lever m, thereby
pulling on the chain and blowing the whistle. By preference the box
is fixed at a given distance from the present "distance signal," say, for
example, at three hundred, five hundred, or seven hundred yards, so
that the driver can pull his train up to the "distance signal" if so
required.
"
When repairs are going on or there is a breakdown, wrought-iron
brackets (without any box) corresponding with and for the same purpose

page_text: as lever m, may be screwed on to the rails and thereby give timely
notice (see Figures 3 and 4).
We have described and illustrated our Invention with reference to
the use of a steam whistle, but as herein-before stated a bell or gong
may, if preferred, be substituted for the whistle.
The sounding of the whistle, bell, or gong may in some cases be
effected by a direct motion of the lever f, that is, without the intervention
of the chain.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed,
we wish it to be clearly understood that we claim, the arrangements for
sounding a whistle, bell, or gong, as described in this Specification or in
the accompanying Drawings illustrated.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Morris and Thomas
Edwards, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-
fifth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
cight hundred and seventy-two.