Improvements in Fog-signal Apparatus for Railways.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 18th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 20th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fog-signal Apparatus for Railways.
1, JOHN GEORGE DIXON, of Elm Cottage, Dry Clough Lane, Crossland Moor,
Huddersfield in the County of York, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
My invention relates to detonating fog-signal apparatus for railways, and
consists in the provision of improved means for placing and retaining the cartridges
on the metals until they are exploded, and for removing the exploded cartridges
and replacing the same by fresh cartridges. The apparatus is operated auto-
matically by the passing engine or train. It is moreover placed in connection with
the ordinary line signal in such manner that a cartridge is exploded by a passing
engine or train only in case the line signal is "on," and is not exploded should the
line signal be "off."
My present invention is intended to effect the same objects as those attained by
the apparatus described in the Specification of my prior Patent No. 2472 dated
4th February 1893, but with less costly apparatus.
For controlling the apparatus I use an inclined bar such as that described in
the aforesaid prior Specification which bar is depressed by the wheels of the
passing engine or train, but in lieu of the cartridge box which oscillates in a
vertical plane I provide an arm adapted to turn about a vertical or nearly vertical
shaft and connected by gearing or otherwise to the loaded shaft which as described
in the beforementioned Patent Specification descends when the inclined bar is
depressed, in such manner that the said vertical shaft is caused to turn say half a
revolution more or less in one direction when the inclined bar is depressed, and to
turn back to its initial position when the said bar is raised again. In one position
of rest the end of said arm is closely adjacent to the rail. The arm is fitted with
a jaw or clip so arranged in combination with a controlling cam or like device
that it is opened automatically as the arm is swung round away from the rail and
is then closed and maintained closed while the arm is swung back towards the
rail. I preferably make the lower part of the clip or jaw so that it closes auto-
matically by its own weight, and so pivot the controlling cam that it offers a
bearing for said jaw and opens same when the latter is moving away from the rail
but is raised by, and out of the way of, the jaw so as not to open the jaw when the
latter is moving towards the rail.
The cartridges are contained in a suitable box which has an opening at one end
to admit of the cartridges being withdrawn one at a time. The cartridges may
descend by their own weight, or be pressed upward by a weight or spring as
the endmost cartridges are withdrawn. To each cartridge is preferably fixed a
projecting strip of metal by which it can be withdrawn from the box and placed
upon the rail.
The operation of this apparatus is as follows, that is to say, the engine or
train having passed over and exploded a cartridge held on the line by the jaw
before described, then arrives at and depresses the inclined bar and in so doing
liberates a balance weight which then operates to turn the vertical shaft and
remove the spent cartridge from the rail. Simultaneously with this movement, the
aw is opened by the stationary cam, and the spent cartridge is dropped out.
Just as the jaw clears the cam it arrives opposite the cartridges in the box and
the jaw then closes automatically upon the projecting metal lip of the eudmost
cartridge. When the inclined bar rises again, the vertical shaft turns back and

page_text: withdraws a fresh cartridge from the pile which it places on the rail ready for the
next passing engine or train.
In some cases where the grip of the jaw is not sufficient to withdraw the cartridge
from the pile I provide a pusher operated by a cam or like device controlled by
the rotary shaft or other moving part of the apparatus in such manner that the
endmost cartridge is pushed nearly out from the pile and so released from pressure
that it can be then easily removed by the jaw.
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The operation is repeated and a fresh cartridge placed on the rail after each
engine or train has passed the apparatus, except when the ordinary line signal is
off", during which time the apparatus is rendered inoperative as follows; that is
to say the oscillating arm or other part moving therewith is connected with the
point rod or wire of the line signal so that the cartridge is pulled off the line and
held back when and so long as the line signal is "off," and is allowed to return to
its normal position when the line signal is on.
Dated this 12th day of May 1893.
<<
"
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fog-signal Apparatus for Railways.
I, JOHN GEORGE DIXON, of 98, Norman Road, Birkby Huddersfield, in the
County of York, formerly of Elm Cottage, Dry Clough Lane, Crossland Moor,
Huddersfield aforesaid Spinners Manager, 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:-
My invention relates to detonating fog-signal apparatus for railways, and has
for its objects to provide improved means for placing and retaining the detonator
on the metals until the same is exploded by the passing engine or train, and for
removing and ejecting the exploded detonator and replacing the same by a fresh
detonator to be exploded in its turn. The apparatus is operated automatically
by the passing engine or train. It is moreover connected with the ordinary
semaphore signal and thereby controlled in such a manner that a detonator is
exploded by a passing engine or train only in case the semaphore signal is “
that is to say, no explosion occurs when the said signal is "off."
on
"
My present invention is intended to effect the same objects as the invention
described in the Specification of prior Letters Patent granted to me No. 2472
dated February 4 1893, but with less costly apparatus. As in said apparatus I
use by the side of the rail an inclined bar which is depressed by the wheels of
each passing engine or train, in combination with a dash-pot or equivalent device
for preventing the too sudden return of the said inclined bar after each depression
thereof; and I also avoid a direct connection between the feeding arm that places
the detonators on the rail, and the aforesaid inclined bar, whereby the shocks
received by the inclined bar are not transmitted to the feeding arin. These form
two cardinal features of my aforesaid prior Patent and are retained in the present
invention.
According to my said invention I provide, for successively placing the detonators
on the rail as required, an arm adapted to turn about a vertical or nearly vertical
axis, said arm being connected by gearing to a shaft which is controlled by a
counterweight and is adapted to be operated by the inclined bar in such a manner
that the said feeding arm is caused to turn through a quarter of a revolution more
or less in one direction when the inclined bar is depressed, and to return to its
initial position when the said bar is raised again. In one position of rest corre-
sponding with the raised position of the inclined bar, the said arm is closely

page_text: adjacent to the rail and holds the detonator thereon, and in the other position of
rest it is opposite a magazine containing a supply of detonators.
:
The arm is fitted with a jaw or clip so arranged in combination. with
controlling cam or like device that the same is opened automatically as the armis
swung round away from the rail and is then closed and maintained closed while the
arm is swung back towards the rail.
The magazine is furnished with an opening through which the detonators are
drawn one at a time by said jaw or clip.
The feeding arm is also controllable by the ordinary semaphore-signal apparatus
so as to be withdrawn from the line when the semaphore is pulled "off." A
locking device is provided to prevent the return of the feeding arm to the rail, in
case the signalman prematurely puts the semaphore signal "on, until the train has
cleared the inclined bar.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan partly broken away in the centre of my improved apparatus
showing the feeding arm in full lines opposite the magazine, and in dotted lines in
two other positions, viz. position (1) when holding the detonator on the rail, and
position (2) when it has been pulled off by the signalman.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the feeding apparatus and connected parts.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the same, the levers being in the positions they
assume when the inclined bar is depressed.
Figure 4 is a similar elevation indicating the normal position when the
detonator is held on the line, and showing the signalman's pulling-off lever in
engagement with the feed controlling lever ready for pulling the detonator off
the line when required.
Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line, Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the mechanism for controlling the inclined bar,
the dash-pot hereinafter described being shown in section.
Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures.
A is the inclined bar preferably of T-section as shown. B is a box supporting
in suitable bearings C' an upright shaft C to which the feeding arm D is attached.
E is the magazine containing the supply of detonators F which are pressed upwards
against the cover E' of the magazine by a spring E. Said magazine may be made
to contain say 50 or other suitable number of detonators which are inserted one at
a time through a slit Es in the side of the magazine near the top.
The inclined bar A is placed close to the rail G and is pivoted at A' to a suitable
bracket carried for example by one of the sleepers. The top of the bar at its
pivoted end is just level with or is a little below the top of the rail. The other end.
of said bar is supported at a height of about 1 inches more or less above the rail
by a lever A which is keyed on a shaft J and loaded at its outer end by a balance
weight A: The shaft J is supported in bearings J. H is a dash-pot or air-
cylinder containing a more or less closely fitting piston H' which is coupled by a
link H' to the end of the lever A2 and moves up and down with said lever: H³ is a
valve in the piston opening inwardly to allow the piston to rise freely while serving
to check its descent. His a vertical groove formed in the wall of the air-cylinder H
and extending to a level a little higher than the top of the piston when the latter is
in its lowest position. The object of this groove is to release the air before the
piston has completed its descent to allow the latter part of the descent to be made
rapidly.
It will be obvious that when a train passes along the metals, the bar A. will be
depressed and the balance weight As and piston H thereby raised.
As soon as the train has passed, the balance weight A3 causes the bar A to rise
again, but the action is slow, being determined by the rate at which the air cau
leak past the piston H. As soon however as the upper end of the groove H' is
uncovered, the remaining portion of the descent, of the balance weight and piston
is performed rapidly. Since the first part of the descent of the balance weight
is slow, the bar A has not time to rise but very little until the whole train has

page_text: completely passed over the bar. The balance weight A³ is made bell-shaped and
encloses the air-cylinder as shown, to keep out dirt and the like. The raised end
of the bar A is bent downwards as shown at A' to allow of a train passing over the
same in the backward direction.
The oscillating movements of the shaft J caused by the up and down movements
of the bar A are utilized to effect the feeding of the detonators as follows, that is
to say, on the lower end of the shaft C in the box B is fixed a toothed wheel C³
which gears with a toothed quadrant K. Said quadrant is fixed on the inner end
of a shaft K¹ mounted in suitable bearings in a fixed bracket B'. On the outer end
of said shaft K¹ is fixed a lever L furnished with an. adjustable balance weight L'
which operates when freed from restraint to turn the arm D to the position for
taking up a fresh detonator from the magazine E. The said lever L is controlled
by an arm J' fixed on the end of the shaft J which arm projects over the tail end
of the lever L and prevents the latter from rising so long as the said arm Jª is held
down by the balance weight A' which is made sufficiently heavy for the purpose.
This position of the lever L corresponds with the feed arm D holding the detonator
on the rail. When the inclined bar A is depressed, the arm J' is forcibly raised,
and the lever L is thus freed, whereupon its balance weight L' operates to turn
the arm D back to the magazine. When the inclined bar A rises again under the
influence of the weight A³, the arm J' operates to depress the tail end of the lever L
and thus turns the arm D to the rail again. A roller Ja is provided on the arm J' to
reduce the friction between the said arm and the lever L.
The arm D is furnished with suitable means for taking hold of the detonators as
follows, that is to say, D' is a jaw hinged at D2 to the arm D.and having a long
downwardly extending tail or arm D³ which is controlled by a spring M the inner
end of which is secured to the shaft C. Said jaw D' forms with the lever D a clip.
The spring M tends to keep the clip tightly closed. Pivoted at N¹ to the lower
end of the box B is a curved blade N which is controlled by a spring N³ that tends
to press the blade against a stop N³. In this position, the blade. is eccentric to the
shaft C as is clearly seen from Figure 1. The lower end of the tail or arm D³
carries a roller D' to reduce friction, which roller when the arm D is opposite the
magazine is inside the blade N as shown in Figure 5. When however the arm D
begins to turn, the said roller D' first touches and then presses outward the blade N
until it escapes past the end of the blade just as the arm arrives. opposite the rail,
whereupon the blade is pulled in again by its spring. The pressure of the roller D
against the blade N tends to more tightly close the jaw on the detonator. On the
return journey of the arm D the roller D* passes outside the blade N and sliding
thereon gradually operates to open the jaw D' thus releasing the detonator and
allowing the same to drop out. To ensure that the detonator shall be thrown out,
a catch O is so pivoted to the side of the box B that while allowing the detonator
to freely pass over and depress same when travelling towards the rail it will not
allow the detonator to pass when the arm is moving away from the rail.. The jaw
is kept open until the arm arrives opposite the magazine, at which moment the
lower end of the arm D³ escapes past the end of the blade N and the jaw is then
closed by its spring on the projecting lip of the uppermost detonator in the
magazine. The part of the blade N near the hinge is of less height than that which
operates on the roller D' and does not interfere with the escape of the said roller
when the arm D arrives opposite the magazine as aforesaid,, As each defonator is
withdrawn from the magazine, the remaining detonators are pushed up by the
spring E. The detonators are secured by turned up portions of plate on strips of
thin tinned plate of Z shape, the tails of which are of convenient length for seizure
by the jaw.
The above description applies to cases where detonators are exploded by each
passing engine or train, it being understood that the normal position of rest of
the arm D is opposite the rail.
It is necessary however that the detonator be withdrawable from the rail
when the line is clear so as to allow a train to pass in such circumstance without
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exploding the detonator. For this purpose the apparatus is connected with the
ordinary semaphore signal and operated in unison therewith so that the detonator
is held on the line in readiness to be exploded when the semaphore signal is
on and is withdrawn from the line when the semaphore signal is "off.".
The connection is effected by a pulling-off lever P which is loosely pivoted
at P to a suitable bracket P' a little below and to one side of the shaft K.
Said lever is connected at its upper end by the wire or rod P³ to the wire or
rod which controls the semaphore signál, and is provided with an arm or finger P
and with a balance weight P³ which returns the lever to its normal position
shewn in Figure 3 when released by the putting back of the semaphore signal to
danger." On the lever L is pivoted at Q a catch Q supported by a pro-
jection Q fixed to the lever, which projection allows the catch to be raised but
not depressed. It will be observed that in the position shewn in Figure 3, the
lever P can be pulled without its finger P engaging the catch Q, but when the
lever L is depressed to the danger position shewn in Figure 4 which corresponds
with the detonator on the line, and the lever P is then pulled its finger P4 will be
found to engage with the catch Q as shewn in Figure 4, and on being pulled
right over will cause the lever L to turn still further and withdraw the detonator
from the line to the dotted position (2) shown in Figure 1. The train can now
pass without exploding the detonator. On putting back the semaphore signal to
"danger" the lever Pis thereby allowed to return to its normal position under
the influence of its balance weight P, and the arm D returns to place the detonator
on the line again being there arrested by the arin J³.
In order to prevent the arm D returning to the rail before a train has completely
passed, in case the signalman puts his signal back to "danger" prematurely I
provide a rod R which is pivoted at R' to a downwardly projecting part R2 of the
arm J. Said rod R passes through a guide R³ and is adapted as hereinafter
described to engage a projection R of the lever L. When the inclined bar A is
depressed, and the arm J' thereby raised, the rod R is by such movement pushed
away from the rail towards the lever L. If the tail end of said lever L has been
previously depressed by the signalman through the lever P, the end of the rod R
when moved as aforesaid passes over the projection R on the lever L and locks
the latter, thus preventing the rise thereof until the train has passed clear of the
inclined bar A. When it has cleared the bar, the latter begins to rise and the
rod R is slowly withdrawn from above the projection R. Immediately
the lever L is unlocked it returns to place the detonator on the line again ready
for the next train.
The box B may be provided with a cover to keep out snow and rain.
In clear weather when the apparatus is not required to be in use, the balance
weight A³ is wedged up permanently, the inclined bar A being thus put out of
action.
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 what I
claim is :-
1. A fog signal apparatus having a detonator feeding arm which can oscillate
between the rail and a magazine, said arm being controlled by balance weights and
by an inclined bar adapted to be depressed by the wheels of a passing engine or
train, for the purposes specified.
2. In such apparatus, so providing that the inclined bar is not positively connected
to the feeding arm, for the purpose specified.
3. The combination with the oscillating feeding arm, and the inclined bar, of a
dash-pot or air-cylinder to prevent the too rapid return of the inclined bar after
each depression thereof, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
4. In combination with the apparatus claimed in the preceding claiming clause,
the groove H in the dash-pot as, and for the purpose, specified.
5. The spring-controlled jaw on the feed arm in combination with the means for

page_text: opening said jaw during the return movement of the arm to the magazine,
substantially as, and for the purposes, specified.
6. The combination, with the feeding arm, of the magazine, and the detonators
therein, constructed and arranged substantially as described.
7. The combination, with the feeding-arm, and the inclined bar arranged and
operating as above described, of the pulling-off lever connected with the ordinary
semaphore signal and so arranged that it will when operated engage the feeding
apparatus when the latter is at the danger position, but not at any other time,
substantially as, and for the purposes, specified.
8. The combination, with the feeding arm, the inclined bar, and their connected.
parts, of the locking rod R for locking the feeding arm when the latter has been.
pulled off, substantially as, and for the purposes, specified.
9. A fog signal apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as described
with reference to the accompanying drawings, and operating as, and for the
purposes, specified. .
Dated this 18th day of December 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.