Improvements in Fog-signalling Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 7th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 7th Sept., 1895
Improvements in Fog-signalling Apparatus.
I, WILMER BRADFORD WILMER of 9 Croft Park, Paignton, Devonshire,
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to fog-signalling on railways, and consists of
apparatus, under the control of the signalman in the cabin, for placing detonators
or fog-signals in position and exploding them by a hammer or suitable hinged or
pivotted device actuated by the pressure or impact thereon of the wheel of a passing
locomotive.
In carrying out my invention, I employ a suitable form of magazine to hold any
desired number of detonators, and this is placed contiguous to the railway line at
the point where audible warning is required to be given in dark or foggy weather.
Within the said magazine is a device for feeding forward the fog signals or
detonators to the open or delivery end thereof and it is connected by means of
chains, wires, cords, rods or levers, or a combination of such means, to a barrel or
drum mounted in a convenient position in the signal cabin and adapted to be
actuated by hand wheel or swaife. By the use of a locking pin, or of stop
pieces, the wheel or swaife can be held in any position to which it is moved, the
openings for receiving the pin, or the stop pieces being arranged at distances apart
equal or corresponding to the length of traverse to be made by the feeding device
to eject one detonator from the magazine. A ratchet wheel and detent may be
employed for the same purpose.
At the delivery end of the magazine and at right angles thereto is a cylinder or
hollow tube or casing in which is adapted to work a piston or plunger having
connection with a lever in the cabin, which, when drawn over by the sigualman,
causes the piston or plunger, through the medium of the connecting chains, wires or
cords, and levers and rods, to advance in the cylinder, and, engaging with a
detonator previously discharged from the magazine into the said cylinder, carry or
force it forward to the side of one of the rails where it is exposed to the action of a
hammer or pivotted device. The said hammer or hinged device is connected to the.
aforesaid lever for operating the piston so that the same movement which places
the detonator in position likewise raises the hammer or pivotted device into striking
position over it. To prevent the hammer hitting the detonator when drawn
sharply into position, a spring or springs forming a cushion is or are employed upon
which the device falls, said springs, however, yielding to the pressure or impact of
the flange of the wheel of the locomotive as it rides over or strikes the pivotted
device whose sudden depression against the detonator explodes it.
A flat spring or springs are employed at the delivery end of the magazine to
prevent the passage of more than one detonator at a time into the cylinder, and a
like spring or springs are secured at the end of the cylinder to prevent the
detonator moving too far forward by reason of inertia, or impulse caused by the
operating lever being drawn sharply over. Each subsequent detonator forced
into position by the piston discharges the spent detonator from the end of the
cylinder.
When the lever in the signal cabin is placed back into its normal position, the
ammer or hinged device is moved clear of the wheels of the train and the fog
ignalling apparatus remains inactive.

page_text: Each movement of the wheel or swaife to the next succeeding opening or stop
piece places a detonator in the cylinder, and for purposes of safety 1 may make an
electrical connection between the cylinder and the cabin so that the presence or
absence of a detonator in the cylinder will be indicated in the cabin.
The detonators to be employed in conjunction with the above described apparatus
are preferably made square with the corners curved inwardly, or the ordinary form
of detonator can be employed.
The apparatus may be duplicated or triplicated to give two or more audible
signals, and be actuated by and from the same wheel and lever.
The above apparatus is simple, inexpensive and compact; has few working parts
liable to get out of order; is entirely under the control of the signalman and can be
thrown into and out of action at will, and requires no attention beyond replenishing
the magazine as it becomes exhausted.
Dated this 5th day of November 1894.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Agents for Applicant.
I, WILMER BRADFORD WILMER, of 9 Croft Park, Paignton, Devonshire,
Gentleman, 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 has reference to fog signalling on railways and consists of
apparatus, under the control of the signalınan in the cabin, for placing detonators
or fog siguals in position and exploding them by a hammer or suitable hinged or
pivotted device actuated by the pressure or impact thereon of the wheel of a passing
locomotive.
In carrying out my invention I employ a suitable form of magazine to hold any
desired number of detonators, and is placed contiguous to the railway line at the
point where audible warning is required to be given in dark or foggy weather.
Within the said magazine is a device for feeding forward the fog signals or
detonators to the open or delivery end thereof and it is connected by means of
chains, wires, cords, rods or levers or a combination of such means, to a barrel or
drum mounted in a convenient position in the signal cabin and adapted to be
actuated by band wheel or swaife. By the use of a locking pin or of stop pieces,
the wheel or swaife can be held in any position to which it is moved, the openings
for receiving the pin, or the stop pieces being arranged at distances apart equal or
corresponding to the length of traverse to be made by the feeding device to eject
one detonator from the magazine.
At the delivery end of the magazine and at right angles thereto is a cylinder
hollow tube or casing in which is adapted to work a piston or plunger having
connection with a lever in the cabin, which, when drawn over by the signalman
causes the piston or plunger, through the medium of the connecting chains, wires
or cords and levers and rods, to advance in the cylinder and, engaging with a
detonator previously discharged from the magazine into the said cylinder, carry or
force it forward to the side of one of the rails where it is exposed to the action of
a hammer or pivotted device. The said hammer or hinged device is connected to
the aforesaid lever for operating the piston so that the same movement which
places the detonator in position likewise raises the hammer or pivotted device into
striking position over it.
To prevent the hammer hitting the detonator when drawn sharply into position,
a spring or springs forming a cushion is or are employed, upon which the device

page_text: falls, said springs, however, yielding to the pressure or impact of the flange of the
wheel of the locomotive as it rides over or strikes the pivotted device whose sudden
depression against the detonator explodes it.
In order that my said invention may be fully un lerstood reference is hereinafter
had to the annexed drawings illustrative thereof, wherein :-
Fig. 1 is plan view of my improved fog signalling apparatus.
Fig. 2 is enlarged plan, partly in section, of the magazine a and cylinder or
hollow casing d.
Fig. 3 is sectional elevation of same taken on line A, A, and
Fig. 4 is transverse section taken on line B, B.
Fig. 5 is elevation of the hammer or striking device.
Fig. 6 shews a modified form of detonator which can be employed in lieu of the
ordinary detonator.
Fig. 7 is elevation of the locking wheel and drum or barrel for actuating the
parts for ejecting detonators from the magazine.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
Referring to the drawings, letter a represents the magazine to contain the supply
of detonators b, said magazine being placed on the outside of and parallel with the
line of rail c and as near thereto as is possible or convenient, d is the cylinder or
hollow casing formed or attached at the delivery end of the magazine and extending
under the rail c to the inner side thereof beyond which it projects a short distance
as shewn, and e is the hammer or striking device pivotted at f, f', on the inside of
the rail e somewhat in the same manner as the hinged bars or rails used at facing
points.
The magazine a is made of metal or other suitable material in the form of a flat
or rectangular box of a length suitable to the number of deton itors it is desired to
charge it with, and is provided at top and bottom with longitudinal openings or
slots a', a', rather narrower than the internal width of the box, to receive and
allow of the traverse of the chain g and of the sliding block or feeding device h.
The chain g is connected at one end to a drum or chain barrel g' situated in the
signal cabin, then passed round guide pulleys g³, g³, and pulley journalled in
bearings in the sliding block and attached at the opposite end to a hook i
connected to the stud on which guide pulley g³ is mounted, or to any suitable fixed
stud or nut at the delivery end of the magazine or on the cylinder d.
The sliding block is supported in the magazine by lids or plates j, j, secured to
the top and bottom thereof as shewn in Fig. 4, and it is capable of being slided
endwise in the direction of arrow D to eject the detonators by winding chain onto
the barrel or drum g' which reduces the length of chain between said drum and the
fixed stud or hook i and consequently draws the feeding block forward a
corresponding distance.
Instead of the feeding block being supported by the lids or plates j, j, it may
have projecting shoulders formed on the sides thereof adapted to fit nicely within
the magazine.
The drum or barrel g' is rotated by means of a wheel g³ which can be locked or
held fast in the position to which it is successively moved by means of a locking
pin or stop piece 93 which is passed through holes g¹ formed in said wheel, such
holes being arranged at distances apart equal or corresponding to the length of
chain to be taken up to eject one detonator from the magazine. In lieu of said
locking wheel I may employ a ratchet wheel and detent for the same purpose.
Capable of working in the cylinder or hollow casing d is a piston or slide d'
connected by rod d to bell crank lever d³ which is actuated through rod from
an ordinary signal lever in the cabin, and slides the said piston d'end wise
backwards and forwards in the cylinder, the same signal lever also serving,
through connecting rods K and bell crank levers K' to actuate the hinged striking
device e.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The detonators 6 which may be of the ordinary round pattern or square as shewn -

page_text: in Fig. 6, are placed flat, side by side, in the magazine a and when the latter is
filled the lid or cover is secured thereon to protect the interior from water dust or
other foreign matter or bodies.
When a detonator is to be placed in position to be exploded, the signalman turns
the wheel partially round to wind a short length of chain g onto the drum g¹ and
the feeding block is thus drawn forward in the direction of arrow D a distance
equal to the space occupied by a detonator. This movement of the sliding block
pushes the whole of the detonators in the same direction and forces the endmost
detonator past the flat springs into the cylinder or hollow casing d, as indicated
in strong dotted line in Fig. 1.
Having placed a detonator in the cylinder, the signal lever is now drawn over
and the piston or slide rod d¹ forced forward in the direction of arrow E whereby
the said detonator is engaged by the piston and slided to the end of the cylinder as
shewn in Fig. 2 where an opening made in the top thereof exposes the detonator to
the striking device. The same movement of the signal lever which places the
detonators in position also moves the hinged rail or striking device e from the
position shewn in full line to that shewn in dotted line in Fig. 5 and brings
the projecting finger or striking part el immediately over the detonator, which it is
prevented from accidentally striking through inertia or other causes, by means of
an india rubber cushion or spring e2 on which it rests. The exploding of the
detonator is effected by the flange on the wheel of the locomotive which in riding
over the rail c strikes the hinged bar e and forces it sharply downwards whereby
the finger or striking part e is brought into contact with the detonator with
sufficient energy to explode it.
The release or return movement of the signal lever draws the piston or slide back
into the position shewn in Fig. 1 in readiness to feed forward the next denotator
ejected into the cylinder and places the hinged bar e and striking part e¹ clear of
the wheels of the train and of the end of the cylinder respectively.
Each time the wheel ' and drum g' are moved round the distance from one
hole g to another, a detonator is ejected into the cylinder, and in order that
indications of the fact may be given, I may employ a contact maker or button,
which, on being engaged by the detonator on entering the cylinder, will complete
an electric circuit and cause an indication to be made or given in the signal cabin.
When the magazine is emptied and requires refilling, the chain is unwound from
the chain barrel, the lid of the magazine removed and the feeding block pushed
back to the position shewn in Fig. 1, the end of the chain, if necessary, being
removed from the hook for this purpose, and not connected again until the
magazine is refilled.
Flat springs in are secured at the end of the cylinder to prevent the detonator
moving too far forward by reason of inertia or impulse caused by the operating
lever being drawn sharply over. Each spent detonator is forced past the
springs m and discharged from the end of the cylinder by the next subsequent
detonator forced into position.
The apparatus may be duplicated or triplicated to give two or more audible
signals, and be actuated by similar levers and rods from the same chain barrel and
signal lever.
The above apparatus is simple, inexpensive and compact; has few working parts
liable to get out of order; is entirely under the control of the signalman and can
be thrown into and out of action at will and requires no attention beyond replenishing
the magazine when exhausted.
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 :-
Firstly. The fog signalling apparatus comprising a magazine such as a with
feeding block h a cylinder or hollow casing d at the delivery end and at right angles
to said magazine a piston or slide d' adapted to be slided end wise in said cylinder and

page_text: a pivotted or hinged striking device such as e all arranged, actuated and operating
in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein shewn and described.
Secondly. The general arrangement, combination and operation of the apparatus
herein shewn and described for feeding and placing fog signals or detonators in
position close to a line of rail and for exploding them by the impact or pressure
of the flange on the wheel of a passing locomotive on a part of the apparatus
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 6th day of August 1895.