Improvements in Apparatus and Arrangements for Increasing the Safety of Railway Travelling, particularly in Foggy Weather.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 28th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus and Arrangements for Increasing the
Safety of Railway Travelling, particularly in Foggy Weather.
CHARLES WILLIAM SELL 25 Oak Village Kentish Town in the Parish of
St. Pancras Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object the diminution of the dangers of railway
travelling, particularly in foggy weather, to dispense with the use of the detonators
or fog signals ordinarily employed, and also having to expose men to danger when
acting as fogmen in the way now so generally practised on most railways.
In carrying my invention into practical effect, I employ a suitable connection
with or to the balance weight lever of the distant or other signals, which is so
arranged as to actuate a lever or part placed on the inner side of the metal or
metals that when the signal or signals is or are set to danger, it shall through the
said connection cause the lever or part to project or rise to a suitable height, to
catch or come in contact with a part projecting downwards on the front of the
engine on the inner side of the life guards, by means of which it shall cause a
valve to operate, and the air, steam, or other brakes to come into action, at the
same time causing a gong or alarm on the engine or tender to call the attention of
the men in charge, to the fact that the signal is against them, at the same time that
it sets a gong or alarm placed on or attached to the signal post or other suitable
position.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of November 1892.
CHARLES WILLIAM SELL.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus and Arrangements for Increasing the
Safety of Railway Travelling, particularly in Foggy Weather.
CHARLES WILLIAM SELL of 25 Oak Village Gospel Oak N.W. in the County
of Middlesex, 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 for its object the diminution of the dangers of railway
travelling particularly in foggy weather, to dispense with the use of the detonators
or fog signals as ordinarily employed, and also having to expose men to danger
when acting as fogmen in the way now generally practised on most railways.
In carrying my invention into practical effect I employ a suitable connection
with, or to, or by the balance weight or balance lever or other suitable part or
parts of the distant or other signal, & can be readily connected or disconnected as
required, which is so arranged as to actuate a lever or part, or two or more as con-
venient, preferably in the form of a bar with inclined surfaces, or to take an
inclined position placed on the inner side of the metals, or in any other suitable or
convenient position that when the signal or signals is or are set to danger, it shall
through the said connection, cause the said lever or levers, part or parts or inclined
surfaces to project or rise to a suitable height to catch or come in contact with a
part, or parts, projecting downwards or sideways on the front or other suitable
position on the engine or tender, on the inner side of the life guards (though it may.
be on the outer) by means of which it shall cause a valve-preferably the drivers.
brake valve, to operate, and the steam, air, or other brakes to come into action, at
CD 01

page_text: the same time causing a gong or alarm on the engine or tender (where such is
preferred) to operate, to call the attention of the men in charge to the fact that
the signal is against them, and at the same time (if desired) it sets going a gong or
alarm attached to the signal post, or other suitable position.
In place of a gong on the engine or tender, the use of fog signals or detonators
fed or applied from a receptacle carried on the engine or tender may be substituted,
the detonators or fog signals being fed down through a tube or passage so arranged
as to deliver them on the metals close in front of the wheels, and thereby secure
their explosion, the feeding down of the detonators or fog signals being actuated
by or through the part or parts which causes the brakes to be applied. By placing
two or more of these bars, levers or parts, or inclined surfaces or actuating parts
at suitable distances from each other, the explosions may be made to inform the
men in charge which signal it is that is against them, when they are unable to
define their exact position if the fog is very dense, as for example a single
explosion for a distant signal, two for a semaphore, or three for another, or such
other arrangement as may be preferred or found most convenient to secure the
desired end.
This arrangement will be found peculiarly suitable when fitted to engines or
tenders which are not provided with continuous brakes, and the use of it in con-
junction with the continuous, vacuum, pressure or other brakes, will be found of
considerable advantage.
The arrangement for actuating the brakes or valve which sets them in operation,
consists of an arm bracket or support, firmly attached to the framing,
or other
suitable part or parts of the engine or tender at the lower end of which a lever or
rocking piece or working part works on a pivot or pin, one end of the said lever or
rocking piece or working part is furnished with a wheel, sheave or roller to travel
on the surface of the raised part or lever or bar, and at a suitable part of the said
lever, rocking piece or working part, is connected the rod, lever part or parts,
which controls the drivers brake valve or other valve, and the arrangement for the
detonators or fog signals, which in some cases may be employed to actuate the fog
signal part only.
The rod, lever part or parts which actuates the drivers brake valve or other
valve or the gong where such is used is made adjustable for length, and works in
suitable guides, placed so as to secure the required action, and may be connected
permanently to the valve or connection with the same or for the gong if desired,
where a separate or independent valve is employed, and also to the drivers brake
valve or preferably so that it actuates it, and leaves the valve free (shown dotted)
to be operated by the driver without his having either to connect or disconnect it
to or from the lever.
At the end of the lever, rocking piece or working part, opposite to the sheave,
wheel or roller I form a crank or turned over part, upwards, downwards, or both
which by suitable connections and arrangements actuates the parts for allowing the
fog signals or detonators to be used.
The apparatus for supplying the fog signals or detonators from the receptacle in
which they are contained, consists of a tube, pipe or passage leading from the same
to the desired point in front of the wheel, and is provided with two or more slides
or controllers one of which permits the passage of a detonator or fog signal from
the receptacle, to that which permits it to escape at the point of discharge or
delivery. These slides or controllers consist of two parts, in each case, (preferably
formed as shown) of steel or other suitable material, and working through slots in
the pipe tube or passage. They receive the required movements from the working
part or parts which actuates the connection to the brake or other valve by means
of a rocking lever and connecting links where preferred which enable the required
amount of movement to be obtained.
These parts are so arranged as not to permit the escape of more than one fog
signal or detonator at a time by causing the upper part of the feeding apparatus
to restrain the passage of the remaining fog signals or detonators after one has

page_text: been brought into its proper position before the lower part is opened to allow the
detonator or fog signal to escape.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-On the sheave wheel or roller coming
in contact with the inclined surface, lever part or bar, which has been put in the
required position on movement being given to the signal, the rocking or working
part gives motion to the slides or controllers withdrawing the lower one and letting
a fog signal or detonator escape. The upper one holding back the others until the
weight of the rocking or working part or parts or the pull or push of a spring returns
it to its normal position, when another fog signal or detonator comes into its required
position, ready to be released on the next occasion the apparatus is brought into
action.
By preference, I arrange the bar or inclined part or surface placed for the
distant signal so that it shall simply open the drivers brake or other valve
sufficiently to enable a check to be given to the speed of the train, whilst that for
the semaphore, or other signal or signals, after the distant signal, opens the
valve sufficiently to stop the train by which arrangement of the apparatus I
provide a double safe guard in case of a driver at any time passing a signal set to
danger.
In some cases it will be found convenient to modify my arrangement, by placing
in the station a bar or connection, which by an engine or train standing in the
station shall cause the bar or lever E, placed at a suitable distance outside the
station to rise to the required position to operate the parts connected with
the drivers brake or other valve, and, or, the fog signals, and keep it in this position
so long as an engine or train remain standing in the station, thus obviating any
forgetfulness or omission on the part of the signalman in letting another engine or
train follow, and enter the station whilst the first engine or train is standing
there.
In this case the raised surface E should be so arranged as to stop the engine or
train gradually yet speedily and without shock.
In the diagrams
Fig. 1 shows an arrangement by means of which my invention is practically
carried out, and consists of an arm bracket or support A, firmly attached to the
framing or other suitable part of the engine or tender, at the lower end of which
a lever or rocking piece B working on a pivot or pin C is fitted one end of the said
lever or rocking piece is furnished with a sheave or roller D which may be fitted
with an elastic tyre or surface to travel on the surface of the raised part bar or
lever E which is or may be actuated by the signal or other connection, and at a
suitable part of the said lever or rocking piece B is connected the rod lever or
part E which controls the drivers brake or other valve employed for actuating the
brakes (and the gong where such is used) in any suitable manner, and the arrange-
ment for the fog signals or detonators; & also in some cases, may be made to
actuate the fog signal part or gong only.
At the end of the lever or rocking piece B opposite to that carrying the sheave
or roller, I form a crank or turned over part F upwards downwards or both which
by suitable connections and arrangements actuates the controllers G & H or parts
for allowing the fog signals or detonators to be used, as will be seen in the diagrams,
the parts are so arranged as not to permit the escape of more than one fog signal
or detonator at a time from the receptacle E2 by causing the upper part of the
controlling apparatus G to restrain the passage of the remaining fog signals or
detonators, after one has been brought into the required position for use, before
the lower part H is opened to allow the fog signal or detonator to escape.
It will be seen by the diagram that the lower controller H is always acting to
restrain the passage of the fog signals or detonators, and continues to do so until
the sheave roller or pulley D is raised by coming in contact with the bar or raised
surface E formed with an incline or slope at one or both ends which causes the
lower controller H to be withdrawn, and the upper one G to enter & hold back the
fog signals or detonators, and allow the lowest one to escape, and on the sheave

page_text: roller or pulley D passing off or beyond the raised part or surface of E the lower
controller H again comes into action (the upper one G being withdrawn) and
restrains the escape of any more fog signals, or detonators, until the parts are again
brought into action.
It is important to the correct working of the apparatus, that the upper con-
troller G should have entered & taken charge of the fog signals or detonators,
before the lower controller H allows the one to be deposited to escape & this
provided for by the arrangements shown in the diagrams.
IS
At the lower or exit end of the pipe tube or passage E2 for allowing the fog
signal or detonator to be deposited in front of the wheel, I place or fix a piece of
leather, canvas, or other suitable material, F, to prevent the fog signal or
detonator from passing off the rail on either side, and this from being of a flexible
nature, will readily yield to any object with which it may come in contact without
breaking off or impeding the correct action of the apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the parts hereinbefore described, similar letters of reference
referring to similar parts in each diagram.
Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged diagrams of the controllers, and. show two modes in
which they may be applied and arranged.
It will thus be evident that by the employment of my system of arrangements
and apparatus a double safe guard is provided, as not only is there the warning
given by the application of the brake, but also the explosion of the fog signal or
detonator, so that in case the driver or fireman, or both should be otherwise
engaged from anything going wrong with the machinery, their attention will be at
once attracted by one or other of the circumstances I have named and the earliest
notice be given to them of the state of the signals. In addition to. this, the
modification of my arrangements hereinbefore described by causing an engine or
train standing in a station to give notice of its presence as herein before described
still further enhances the value and convenience of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of. my said. inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I do not
claim as of my invention any of the parts forming the combinations individually as
new, as most of them have been used before for various purposes for actuating
parts of machinery or apparatus on railways, but what I do claim as of niy
invention is
The combination of the parts shown in the diagrams in the manner & for the
purposes hereinbefore described & substantially as shown in the accompanying
sheet of diagrams.
Secondly. The system of arrangement & combination of parts shown, for
enabling audible intimation of the signal being on & so as to enable the men in
charge to distinguish what signal it is that is against them substantially as
herein before described and shown in the accompanying diagrams, and for the
purposes specified.
Thirdly. The combination of a bar or locking picce placed within the station
and provided with suitable connections for actuating the part E when placed at a
suitable distance, or other required position outside the station, substantially in the
manner and for the purposes herein before described, or any mere modification of
the same.
Dated this 26th day of August 1893.
CHARLES WILLIAM SELL.