Improvements in and Connected with Railway Signalling Apparatus Adapted to Place and Remove Fog Signals or Detonators, and in Fog Signals Suitable for Use with such Apparatus.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in and Connected with Railway Signalling Apparatus
Adapted to Place and Remove Fog Signals or Detonators, and in
Fog Signals Suitable for Use with such Apparatus.
We, JOHN ALEXANDER MANGER of 57 High Street, Kingsland in the County of
Middlesex, Drysalter, and GEORGE BLYTON of Church End, Finchley, in the same
County, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be aз
follows:-
This invention has reference to railway signalling apparatus adapted to place fog
signals or detonators over rails, and to remove them, whether exploded or not; and
our apparatus is such that we are enabled to dispense with the employment of the
fogmen ordinarily employed to place fog signals, upon the rails; the signals being, by
our apparatus, taken as required (in some cases in connection with the operation of
the semaphore or equivalent signal) from a store or suitable receptacle, and the
spent or unused fog signals being placed in a receptacle specially provided to receive
them. For this purpose in connection with a signal and its operating lever we provide
apparatus operating as we will now proceed to explain; and in lieu of providing fog
signals or detonators with the usual clip pieces designed to clip the rail, we provide a
tag or tale piece that projects laterally from the signal and is of suitable form and
sufficient strength to support the fog signal either when held in a gripping device of
suitable kind such as is hereinafter referred to or otherwise held.
In a convenient position adjacent to the rail over which fog signals or detonators
are to be placed, we provide and connect to the signal operating rod or wire a lever able
to turn upon a pin or centre. This lever carries at its free end a gripping device adapted
to receive and hold the tag or tail piece of a fog signal. The arrangement is such
that when the signal is in the danger attitude the lever that carries the gripping device,
and which for distinction we will call the gripping lever, will be in such a position
that a fog signal held by the gripper will be over the rail over which a train would
have to pass. When the signal is in the safety or "line clear" attitude, the position of
the gripper lever will be with the gripper opposite a feeding device, from which it
receives the fog signals.

page_text: Conveniently located between the two extreme positions of the gripper lever there
is a device such as a bar with inclines to act upon a tail piece in connection with the
gripper so as to open the gripper, and there is also a receptacle for spent or unused
fog signals; so that as the gripper is returned into position for receiving a fresh fog
signal, that it already holds, will be dropped into the receptacle before mentioned;
and the gripper will arrive opposite the feeder, open, in readiness to receive the new
fog signal; on the tag or tail piece of which it will close before the return
stroke of the gripper lever is commenced. The pusher or feeder is operated from the
gripper lever by an arrangement of links sliding bar and slotted lever, the arrange-
ment being such that when the gripper has received a fresh fog signal and is being
moved towards the rail, the pusher will be making its backward stroke; and during
the return movement of the gripper lever, the forward stroke of the pusher will be
effected.
For the purpose of affording an audible indication that the line is clear, we provide
in some convenient locality, for example, on the signal post, a gong with striker
adapted to be raised by the movement of the signal lever when in the act of placing
the semaphore or its equivalent in the danger attitude, and to be kept raised by a
catch. To release the striker and sound the gong the concurrence is required of the
signalman, for which purpose the catch is so connected to the signal lever as to be
caused to partially release the striker when the signal is lowered; and also it is
connected to a train bar (arranged, as we prefer, to move about a pin or centre laterally
in relation to the rail) which, by the passing of a train or an engine along the line,
will complete the release of the striker.
Our invention may be used either when it is foggy or at other times; but usually,
as applied to fog signalling, it will be arranged so as to be disconnected from the
ordinary signalling apparatus in clear weather.
Although we have described its use in connection with the ordinary somaphore or
equivalent signal and the operating lever thereof, it will be obvious that if preferred
apparatus according to our invention may be operated by an independent lever or
levers.
Dated this 14th dow of T1000

page_text: Improvements in and Connected with Railway Signalling Apparatus
Adapted to Place and Remove Fog Signals or Detonators, and in
Fog Signals Suitable for Use with such Apparatus.
We, JOHN ALEXANDER MANGER, of 57 High Street, Kingsland, in the County of
Middlesex, Drysalter, and GEORGE BLYTON, of Church End, Finchley, in the same
County, Civil 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:—
'
This invention has reference to railway signalling apparatus adapted to place fog
signals or detonators over rails, and to remove them, whether exploded or not, and
our apparatus is such that we are enabled to dispense with the employment of the
fogmen ordinarily employed to place fog signals upon the rails thereby obviating the
risk to life and the expense their employment involves, besides effecting a considerable
saving in the cost of detonators by reducing wasteful consumption thereof. The
signals are by our apparatus, taken as required (in some cases in connection with the
operation of the semaphore or equivalent signal) from a store or suitable recep-
tacle, and the spent or unused fog signals are placed in a receptacle specially provided
to receive them. For this purpose in connection with a signal and its operating lever
we provide apparatus operating as we will now proceed to explain, and in lieu of
providing fog signals or detonators with the usual clip pieces designed to clip the rail,
we provide a tag or tail piece that projects laterally from the fog signal or
detonator and is of suitable form and sufficient strength to support the fog signal
either when held in a gripping device of suitable kind such as hereinafter referred
to, or otherwise held.
"
In a convenient position adjacent to the rail over which fog signals or detonators
are to be placed, we provide and connect to the signal operating rod or wire, a
lever able to turn upon a pin or centre. This lever carries at its free end a
gripping device adapted to receive and hold the tag or tail piece of a fog signal.
The arrangement is such that when the signal is in the danger attitude, the lever that
carries the gripping device, and which for distinction we will call the gripping lever,
will be in such a position that a fog signal held by the gripper will be over the rail
line clear'
over which a train would have to pass. When the signal is in the safety or
attitude, the position of the gripper lever will be with the gripper opposite a feeding
device, from which it receives the fog signals. Conveniently located between the two
extreme positions of the gripper lever there is a device such as a bar with inclines to
act upon a tail piece in connection with the gripper so as to open the gripper, and
there is also a receptacle for spent or unused fog signals, so that as the gripper is
returned into position for receiving a fresh fog signal, that which it already holds will
be dropped into the receptacle before mentioned, and the gripper will arrive opposite
the feeder, open, in readiness to receive the new fog signal, on the tag or tail piece
of which it will close before the return stroke of the gripper lever is commenced. The

page_text: pusher or feeder is operated from the gripper lever by suitable means such as an
arrangement of links, sliding bar, and slotted lever, or the means hereinafter described,
the arrangement being such that when the gripper has received a fog signal and is
being moved towards the rail, the pusher will be making its backward stroke, and
during the return movement of the gripper lever, the forward stroke of the pusher
will be effected. For the purpose of affording an audible indication that the line is
clear, we provide in some convenient locality, for example, on the signal post, a gong
with striker adapted to be raised by the movement of the signal lever, when in the act
of placing the semaphore or its equivalent in the danger attitude, and to be kept raised
by a catch or lever.
To release the striker and sound the gong, the concurrence is required of the
signalman, for which purpose the eatch is so connected to the signal lever, as to be
caused to partially release the striker when the signal is lowered; and also it is
connected to a train bar (arranged, as we prefer, to move about a pin or centre
laterally in relation to the rail) which by the passing of a train or an engine along the
line, will complete the release of the striker.
Our invention may be used either when it is foggy or at other times; but usually,
as applied to fog signalling, it will be arranged so as to be disconnected from the
ordinary signalling apparatus in clear weather. Although we have described its use
in connection with the ordinary semaphore or equivalent signal and the operating
lever thereof, it will be obvious that if preferred apparatus according to our invention
may be operated by an independent lever or levers, located at any convenient place
between the signal box and the apparatus.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings
Fig. 1 is a plan of a signalling arrangement according to this invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan to a larger scale of the mechanism for placing the detonators
on the rail.
Fig. 3 is an elevation partly in section shewing the gripper carrying a detonator
from the store to the rail.
Fig. 4 is an elevation shewing the store, with a detonator ready to be seized by the
gripper.
Fig. 5 shows the rail and train bar in section.
Fig. 6 is an elevation of the signal post with lever and gong.
A is a rail of the permanent way. Near to it there is mounted on the stud or
pivot H¹ the curved gripping lever H, which is able to swing through an arc between
the two positions shewn in full and dotted lines in Fig. 2. This lever is operated in
one direction, that is from the full to the dotted lines, by the wire or rod G, which is
either connected with the semaphore signal, or is actuated by an independent lever in
the cabin or elsewhere.
In the other direction the gripping lever is operated by the wire F and a counter-
weight. The same wire and counterweight may operate the lever of two or more of
our apparatus according to the number of fog signals to be placed. On the end of
the gripping lever H is a movable jaw H2 pivotted at H³, and having a tail piece H*.
The jaw H is of sufficient weight to grasp the tail of a detonator beneath it.
As the gripping lever goes backwards and forwards the tail H* rides under and over
inclines on the elastic bar J. In the backstroke the tail goes under the bar and the
jaw is raised releasing the detonator or spent detonator which it holds. On the other
stroke the jaw remains closed.
Pivotted to the lever H is a connecting rod M³, guided at its outer extremity in a
guide M² (Fig. 4). The connecting rod M' actuates, by a stud M³, a pusher M
guided at one end in the guide M2 and at the other end in the store of detonators L.
Each time the gripper lever is drawn back the pusher is forced forwards, and moves a
detonator outward ready to be gripped.
The method of operation is as follows:-
When the signalman wishes to blook the line he clealans the wire or red G A +

page_text: Immediately the wire or rod G is slackened the lever H is drawn by the wire F
into the position shewn in full lines (Fig. 2), and the detonator E is placed over the
rail. When "line clear" has to be given the wire or rod G is pulled and the lever H
returns to its former position dropping the detonator, or what remains of it into
the receptacle K, and closing on to the tail piece of another detonator which has
been just forced out by the pusher M. In order that the driver of a train may
have no doubt when the line is clear the gong T (Fig. 6) may be arranged to
sound when the train approaches the signal post on which the signal arm is lowered.
The striker of the gong T is operated by a catch on the vertical rod R. This rod
can slide up and down and stands at its lower end on two levers U and V, of
which V is connected by the wire or rod O to the signal cabin, while U is connected
by the wire or chain N to the train bar B (Fig. 1). The weight on the lever U
always tends to raise the rod R and to draw the train bar into the position shewn
in Fig. 1. When the signalman raises, by the lever V, the rod S to lower the
semaphore arm, the rod R is left supported by the lever Ú only. If a train should
now pass, the left hand end of the lever U will be depressed by movement of the
train bar B about the pivot D, and the rod R will drop, operating the striker of
the gong in its fall. As soon as the train has passed, the rod R will rise again,
the catch on it being sufficiently elastic to allow it to pass the striker on the return
stroke.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In railway signalling apparatus the combination of a store containing deto-
nators, a pusher adapted to deliver the detonators in succession, and a gripping
lever which carries the detonators from the store to the line, substantially as
described.
2. In combination with apparatus of the kind referred to in the preceding claim a
bar, such as J, which opens the gripping lever as it returns from the line to release
the unused or spent detonators substantially as described.
3. In railway signalling apparatus a store in which detonators are arranged one
above the other, and from which they are delivered one at a time by a pusher,
substantially as described.
4. The improved apparatus adapted to place and remove fog signals or detonators on a
railway, arranged and operating substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1
to 5 inclusive of the drawings.
5. In railway signalling apparatus the combination with a semaphore signal of a
gong which is sounded by an approaching train or Engine when the signal arm shews
line clear" substantially as described.
6. In railway signalling apparatus the combination of the train bar B, levers U
and V, rod R gong T, and wires or connexions N. O substantially as described and
shewn.
7. A fog signal or detonator provided with a tag or tail such as described by which
it can be grasped as and for the purposes specified.
Dated this Thirteenth day of March 1889.