Improvements in Appliances for Fog Signalling on Railways.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 13th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 24th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Appliances for Fog Signalling on Railways.
We, WALTER NORMAN of Newton-le-Willows in the County of Lancaster,
Mechanical Engineer, and JAMES NORMAN of 78, Bedford Road, Bootle,
Liverpool, in the said County of Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to various improved appliances for fog signalling on
railways by means of detonators, whereby the usual inconvenient & dangerous
method of placing the detonators on the rails by hand is dispensed with.
In one modification of our invention the apparatus which is self contained inay
be placed in any convenient position, & is or may be set from the signal station to
fire one or more detonators as required, the firing gear being actuated by the
wheels of a passing engine or train.
The detonators are delivered from a magazine into holes or recesses formed in
a revolving horizontal disc or wheel, which in turning brings the detonators under
a plunger or hammer to explode them, provision being made for the spent cases to
fall clear of the apparatus, provision is also made on the disc or wheel so that the
detonators may fall easily into position.
On the same spindle as the disc or wheel is fitted a multiple cam arrangement
with projections corresponding to the holes or recesses in the disc or wheel & which
in revolving actuates the firing mechanism.
The firing mechanism consists of a plunger or hammer which is or may be
assisted by a spring & to facilitate the working a small roller is or may be inserted
in the projecting part of the plunger or hammer so that it may rise easily over
the cam projections.
Below the disc or wheel & fixed on the same spindle, is a double wheel, having
horizontal depressions to engage a roller or other pawl, actuated from a shaft, on
which is a lever to be depressed by the wheels of the engine or train, the pawl is
held in position by a weight or spring, the lower portion of the double wheel
engages a pawl fixed inside a partial shrouding of another wheel or pulley working
below it on the same spindle but free to revolve, to this wheel or pulley is secured
the wire or other connection, one end leading to the signal station, while to the
other end is attached a weight to give motion to the apparatus when it has been
released by the engine or train. In the place of a weight a spring or other
suitable meaus may be used.
The shrouding on the wheel or pulley is for the purpose of keeping the upper
pawl out of gear after being disengaged by the engine or train.
The actuating lever when it has been struck by the wheels of the engine or
train, remains out of gear until the apparatus is reset by the signalman.
a
Although the foregoing description applies to an apparatus working on
vertical axis, it may if required be arranged to work horizontally, in either
any kind.
case ordinary detonators are used without clips of
Another modification of our invention consists of a revolving anvil with
recesses in its face or circumference to receive the detonators which are fed
automatically from the magazine & carry them into position under the plunger or
hammer, round the circumference of the anvil & connecting each recess is a
groove in which works an arrangement for removing the spent cases if necessary.
By preference the anvil is fixed to a horizontal axis, & over it is fixed the
magazine & firing arrangement, on one or both edges of the anvil are projections
or studs to raise the plunger or hammer into the position for firing.

page_text: The actuating gear is or may be similar to that already described for the first
arrangement to give one or more signals as required.
Another arrangement consists of an apparatus for exploding the detonators by
crushing them between two geared rollers, recesses being formed in the face of
one roller to receive the detonators, & corresponding projections on the face of the
other roller to crush the detonators & so cause the explosion as each one comes
into position, the detonators are automatically fed from the magazine into the
recesses of the roller which has a connecting groove round its circumference in
which works an arrangement for removing the spent cases if necessary.
By preference the rollers are carried on horizontal axles, but they may also be
arranged on vertical axles, & the actuating gear is or may be similar to that
described for the first arrangement to give one or more signals as required.
Another of our improvements consists of a vertical magazine & plunger or
hammer, beneath which works a slide in which are holes to receive the detonators
& place them in position, & on each side of the slide are projections for raising
the plunger or hammer for exploding them. Provision is also made for the spent
cases to fall clear of the apparatus. To facilitate the working a small roller is or
may be inserted in the projecting parts of the plunger or hammer so that they
may rise easily over the sliding projections. The plunger or hammer is or may be
assisted by a spring or other means to give the necessary impetus to cause the
explosion on descending.
The actuating gear is or may be similar to that.described for the first arrange-
ment, to give one or more signals as required.
Although in the foregoing descriptions we bave described each apparatus as
having only one magazine & firing arrangement, these parts may be duplicated on
each apparatus if necessary.
Dated this Fifteenth day of December 1893.
WALTER NORMAN.
JAMES NORMAN.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Appliances for Fog Signalling on Railways.
We, WALTER NORMAN of Newton-le-Willows, in the County of Lancaster,
Mechanical Engineer, and JAMES NORMAN of 78 Bedford Road, Bootle,
Liverpool, in the said County of Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer, 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 :-
Our invention relates to various improved appliances for fog signalling on
railways, by means of detonators, whereby the usual inconvenient & dangerous
method of placing the detonators on the rails by hand is dispensed with.
In each case the apparatus which is self contained may be placed in any
convenient position, & is or may be set from the signal station, to fire one or more
detonators as required, the firing gear being actuated by the wheels of a passing
engine or train.
In one modification of our invention (Sheet 1) the detonators are delivered from
a magazine (1) into holes or recesses formed in a revolving horizontal disc or
wheel (2) which in turning brings the detonators under a plunger or hammer (3)
to explode them provision being made for the spent cases to fall clear of the
apparatus by bevilling the edge of the casing (23) provision is also made on the
disc or wheel so that the detonators may fall easily into position.
On the same spindle as the disc or wheel, is fitted a multiple cam (4) arrange-
ment with projections corresponding to the holes or recesses in the disc or
wheel (2) & which in revolving actuates the firing mechanism.

page_text: The firing mechanism consists of a plunger or hammer (3) which is or may
be assisted by a spring, & to facilitate the working a small roller (5) is.or may
be inserted in the projecting part of the plunger or hammer, so that it may rise
easily over the cam projections.
Below the disc or wheel & fixed on the same spindle, is a double wheel (6) having
horizontal depressions to engage a roller or other pawl (7) actuated from a shaft (8)
on which is a lever (21) or levers, to be depressed by the wheels of the engine or
train, the pawl is held in position by a weight or spring (9) the lower portion of
the double wheel (6) engages a pawl (10) fixed inside a partial shrouding of
another wheel or pulley (11) working below it on the same spindle, but free to
revolve, to this wheel or pulley is secured the wire or other connection, one end
leading to the signal station, while to the other end is attached a weight to give
motion to the apparatus when it has been released by the engine or train.
place of a weight, a spring or other suitable means may be used.
In the
The shrouding (12) on the wheel or pulley (11) is for the purpose of keeping
the upper pawl (7) out of gear after being disengaged by the engine or train.
The actuating lever (21) when it has been struck by the wheels of the engine
or train, remains out of gear until the apparatus is reset by the signalman.
Although the foregoing description applies to an apparatus working on a
vertical axis, it may if required be arranged to work on a horizontal axis, in either
case ordinary detonators may be used without clips of any kind.
Auother modification of our invention (Sheet 2) consists of a revolving
auvil (12) with recesses in its face or circumference to receive the detonators,
which are feed automatically from the magazine (1), & carry them into position
under the plunger or hammer (3), round the circumference of the anvil, & con-
necting each recess is a groove in which works an arrangement consisting of a
piece of bent steel (22) for removing the spent cases if necessary.
By preference the anvil is fixed to a horizontal axis & over it is fixed the
magazine & firing arrangements, on one or both edges of the anvil are projec-
tions or studs to raise the plunger or hammer into the position for firing.
The actuating gear is similar to that described for the arrangement shewn on
Sheet 1, & consists of a double wheel (6) having horizontal depressions to engage
a roller or other pawl (7) actuated from a shaft (8) on which is a lever (21) to
be depressed by the wheels of the engine or train, the pawl is held in position by,
a weight or spring: the other portion of the double wheels engages a pawl (10)
fixed to a partial shrouding or flange of another wheel or pulley (11) working on
the same spindle but free to revolve, to this wheel or pulley is secured the wire
or other connection, one end leading to the signal station while the other end is
attached to a weight or spring to give motion to the apparatus, when it has been
released by the engine or train.
Another arrangement (Sheet 3) consists of an apparatus for exploding the
detonators by crushing thein between two geared rollers (13 & 14) recesses being
formed in the face of one roller to receive the detonators, & corresponding
projections on the face of the other roller to crush the detonators, & so cause the
explosion as each one comes into position, the detonators are automatically fed
from the magazine (1), into the recesses of the roller, which has a connecting
groove round its circumference in which works an arrangement consisting of a piece
of bent steel (22) for removing the spent cases if necessary.
Another of our improvements (Sheet 4), consists of a vertical magazine (15);
& plunger or hammer (16), beneath which works a slide (17), which may be plain,
or have holes to receive the detonators, & place them in position, & on one or
both sides of the slide, are projections (18), for raising the plunger or hammer
for exploding them, provision is also made for the spent cases to fall clear of the
apparatus by bevilling the plate (23). To facilitate the working a small
roller (19) is or may be inserted in the projecting parts (20) of the plunger or
hammer, so that they may rise easily over the sliding projections. The plunger or

page_text: hammer is or may be assisted by a spring or other means to give the necessary
impetus to cause the explosion on descending.
The actuating gear is or may be similar to that described for the apparatus
shewn on (Sheet 2) to give one or more signals as required, but with a multiple
cam wheel to give motion to the slide (17) which places the detonators in position
& also to the bars or slides (18) for raising the plunger or hammer to explode
them.
Although in the foregoing descriptions we have described each apparatus as
having only one magazine & firing arrangement, these parts may be duplicated on
or for each apparatus if necessary.
Having now described our invention, the method of working the various
arrangements is as follows: (Sheet 5.) The signalman pulls over a lever (4) or
other apparatus, in the signal box, to the requisite position, indicated by the
notches (1, 2 & 3) in the quadrant (5) & this motion acting through a wire or
chain (6) partially rotates the loose pulley on the shaft of the apparatus, (which is
prevented from turning back, by the pawl engaging the fixed wheel,) & at the
same time raises the weight (7). The lever in the signal box is then put back
again to its normal position, the wire being kept tight by a weighted bell crank (8)
or other means, between the crank & the signal box, but left slack between the
crank & the apparatus which is now ready for use.
The signalman having set the apparatus for a given number of signals, the
wheels of a passing engine or train depresses a lever or levers in connection
with the shaft & disengages a pawl on the double wheel & the weight or spring
acting through the pawl fixed to the shrouding of the wheel or pulley, causes the
axle to revolve & the detonators to be brought into position, & at the same time
releases the plunger or hammer to explode them, as soon as the necessary number
of signals have been fired the apparatus may be immediately reset & the operation
repeated.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, & in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
The several various improved appliances for fog signalling on railways, by
means of detonators, & also the actuating gear for working the same, substantially
as herein described & illustrated by drawings on Sheets numbered 1 to 5
inclusive.
Dated this 12th day of Sentember 1904
WALTER NORMAN.
JAMES NORMAN.