Improvements in Point and Signal Apparatus for Railways.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug.,
1895
Complete Specification Left, 30th Apr., 1896--Accepted, 30th May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Point and Signal Apparatus for Railways.
Partly a communication from GEORGE HENRY LIST, of Lahore, India, Member
of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
I, AMYAS MORSE now residing at Tremadoc, Shanklin, Isle of Wight, Executive
Engineer of the Public Works Department, North Western Railway of India, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to point and signal apparatus for railways and its chief
object is to provide means whereby no signal can be lowered until the points to
which that signal refers are first set and locked and also means whereby the points
cannot be moved or become unlocked during the passing of a train, and further
means whereby the distant signal cannot be pulled off before the pulling off of the
signal in connection with the points.
According to this invention the interlocking between the points and signal or
signals is secured by a movable switch rod and locking bar not attached rigidly to
either the tongue rails of the points or to the signals but interlocked with the
tongue rails by means of the bolt or bolts of one or two locks, according as one or
two signals are employed, which lock into notches in the switch rod and the
stretcher bar, and it is so arranged that the lock bolt referring to a particular
road can only be shot to lock the stretcher bar when the points are set fair for that
road; and further that when a lock bolt has been shot thereby locking the points
the switch rod and locking bar are freed to move in one direction only, which
movement of the switch rod will lock the lock bolt into the stretcher bar and the
key into the lock, the lock being so made that the key can only be got out when
the bolt is down free from the stretcher bar, and also bring a slot in the locking
bar under a plunger attached to the signal referring to the road for which the
points are set and locked; and the lowering of the signal will drive the plunger
through the locking bar, locking it, and thereby the lock bolt in the stretcher bar
and the key in the lock. When the locking bar is in its normal position and the
points are free there is no slot opposite either of the signal plungers, so that no
signal can be lowered. When the locking bar has been moved to bring a slot under
one plunger there is no slot under the other plunger.
When it is desired to interlock the distant signal and the home signal the locking
bar is provided with two additional holes through either of which according to the
position of the locking bar an additional plunger may act. This additional plunger
is suitably connected with the rod or rods of the home signal and is so arranged
that it must be actuated in a downward direction when either of the home signals
is depressed but this additional plunger can be left in this lower position although
the home signal plunger is raised.
The additional plunger is interlocked by a bar one end of which is connected to
the wire operating the distant signal the other end being connected with the distant
signal lever. The interlocking of the additional plunger and bar is so arranged
that when this plunger is raised, the bar is locked and prevents the distant signal
being pulled off whereas when the additional plunger is depressed (thereby locking
the switch) the distant signal can be pulled off and the pulling off of the distant
signal locks the plunger down.
The invention is applicable to the interlocking of any signal and switch but it is
particularly applicable to the interlocking of a road side station of a single line and

page_text: I will proceed to further describe the invention so applied to the interlocking of the
signals and switch of the main and loop lines and also of the distant signals.
At each end of the station are two semaphore signals at the point where the loop
line diverges from the main line. For the sake of convenience I will refer to these
signals as the home signals.
The arms and lights on the signal pósts may be so arranged that the higher arm
or light refer to the main or through line whilst the lower arm or light refer to the
loop line.
These signals are interlocked with the switch in the following manner :-
The rods which actuate the two signals terminate in two plungers. In lowering
the main line signal its plunger is depressed and in lowering the loop line signal its
plunger is depressed. These signals work in suitable bearings and a plate (herein
called a locking bar) connected with or forming part of the switch rod passes
immediately below them in such a way that neither plunger can be depressed
without passing through holes in such locking bar. This locking bar moves with
the switch rod and the slots or holes in such locking bar are so arranged that the
signals can only be operated when the switch is safe home either for the main line
or loop line.
This switch rod is not rigidly connected with the stretcher bar of the tongue
rails but can be brought into connection therewith by means of keys. I prefer
that this connection between the switch rod and the stretcher bar be between the
rails so that there can be no tampering with such connection whilst the train is
running over the points. Accordingly I place between the two switch rails two
locks in a strong cast iron case and I make them main line and loop line
respectively.
The switch rod is interlocked at one end with the stretcher bar of the tongue
rails of a pair of points by two locks in such a way that when the bolts of such
locks are down the switch rod cannot be moved in either direction. This may be
effected by having a slot or hole in the switch rod and so arranging it that one bolt
comes against one end and the other bolt against the other end of the hole or slot.
When therefore both bolts are down the switch rod can move neither to the right
nor left.
In the stretcher bar there is one notch into which the first bolt or the
second bolt can be shot according to the position of the points. The bolts are those.
of locks so arranged that the keys can only be extracted when the bolts are down
and each key will only fit its own lock. Each key will have a distinguishing feature
in its construction so that the proper key may be identified in the dark.
The interlocking of the home and distant signal may be effected in the following
way :-
The plungers of the two home signals are connected by a swinging bar or floating
lever. This bar actuates an additional plunger in such a way that when either
plunger of the home signals is depressed the additional plunger is also depressed,
but as the upper end of the additional plunger is slotted, the signal plunger can be
raised without raising the additional plunger.
The lower end of the additional plunger works through a coil spring so that
when the additional plunger is depressed the spring is compressed. The lower end
of this additional plunger passes through a hole in the locking bar, thereby bolting
it. The additional plunger and distant signal are interlocked by a bar which is
connected at one end to the wire working the distant signal and at the other to
the distant signal lever. The bar and additional plunger are interlocked by notches
in such a way that when the additional plunger is raised the bar is locked and
when the additional plunger is depressed it unlocks the bar which can then be
pulled to lower the distant signal. If the home signal is put up before the distant
signal the additional plunger is held down by the bar until that bar is moved, so
that the notch in it becomes opposite the notch in the additional plunger, when the
spring forces the additional plunger up and the solid side of the additional plunger
passing through the notch in the bar locks it, thereby locking the distant signal.
When the additional plunger is depressed its lower extremnity passes through a

page_text: hole in the locking bar and bolts it, and therefore until the distant signal has been
locked at danger by the additional plunger rising and locking it the locking bar
remains bolted.
The following is an illustration of the manner in which this invention may be
used:-
The station master desiring to receive a train say on the up main sends a
pointsman to the points with the up main key. The pointsman sets the points for
the main line puts his key in the lock and turns it; this locks the points and
releases the locking bar. He then operates the locking bar lever, and gives a
signal by flag or lamp to the station master to indicate that the points are set and
locked and the main signal released. The station master then works his signal
lever on the platform and lowers the proper signal. The lowering of the home
signal effects two things
(a) It bolts the locking bar, the points lock, and the key remains in the lock.
(b) It releases the distant signal.
The pointsman then lowers the distant signal which again bolts the locking bar.
After the train has passed the distant signal the pointsman puts it to danger. As
soon as the train has passed the home signal and that signal has gone to danger, he
puts the locking bar lever to the central notch, steps between the rails, turns and
takes out the key and the points are free and all signals locked at danger. Until
he pushes his distant signal lever home and so locks it he cannot get out the
points key.
Dated this 8th day of August 1895.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, Loudon, Chartered Patent Agents.
Improvements in Font and signal Apparatus for Hallways.
Partly a communication from GEORGE HENRY LIST, of Lahore, India, Member
of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
I, AMYAS MORSE lately residing at Tremadoc, Shanklin, Isle of Wight, but
now of Lahore, Punjaub, India, Executive Engineer of the Public Works
Department, North Western Railway of India, do hereby declare the nature of the
said 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 relates to point and signal apparatus for railways and its chief
object is to provide means whereby no signal can be lowered until the points to
which that signal refers are first set and locked and also means whereby the points
cannot be moved or become unlocked during the passing of a train, and further,
means whereby the distant signal cannot be pulled off before the pulling off of the
signal in connection with the points.
According to this invention the interlocking between the points and signal or
signals is secured by a movable switch rod and locking bar not attached rigidly to
either the tongue rails of the points or to the signals but capable of being locked
with the tongue rails by means of the bolt or bolts of one or two locks, according
as one or two signals are employed, which lock into notches in the switch rod and
the stretcher bar, and it is so arranged that the lock bolt referring to a particular
road can only be shot to lock the stretcher bar when the points are set fair for that
road; and further that when a lock bolt has been shot thereby locking the points
the switch rod and locking bar are free to move in one direction only, which move-
ment of the switch rod will lock the lock bolt into the stretcher bar and the key
into the lock, the lock being so made that the key can only be withdrawn when the

page_text: bolt is down free from the stretcher bar as will be well understood; the movement
of the switch rod will also bring a slot or hole in the locking bar under a plunger
attached to the signal referring to the road for which the points are set and locked;
and the lowering of the signal will drive the plunger through the slot or hole in the
locking bar, locking it, and thereby also locking the lock bolt in the stretcher bar
and the key in the lock. When the locking bar is in its normal position and the
points are free there is no slot or hole opposite either of the signal plungers, so
that no signal can be lowered. When the locking bar has been moved to bring a
slot under one plunger there is no slot under the other plunger.
When it is desired to interlock the distaut signal and the home signal the
locking bar is provided with two additional holes through either of which according
to the position of the locking bar an additional plunger may act.
This additional
plunger is suitably connected with the rod or rods of the home signal or signals
and is so arranged that it must be actuated in a downward direction when either of
the home signals is depressed but this additional plunger can be left in this lower
position although the home signal plunger is raised.
The additional plunger is interlocked by a bar one end of which is connected
to the wire operating the distant signal the other end being connected with the
distant signal lever. The interlocking of the additional plunger and bar is so
arranged that when this plunger is raised, the bar is locked and prevents the
distant signal being pulled off whereas when the additional plunger is depressed
(thereby locking the switch) the distant signal can be pulled off and the pulling
off of the distant signal locks the plunger down.
The invention is applicable to the interlocking of any signal and switch but it is
particularly applicable to the interlocking of a road side station of a single
line and I will proceed to further describe the invention so applied to the inter-
locking of the signals and switch of the main and loop lines and also of the
distant signals, and 1 will for this purpose refer to the accompanying drawing
which illustrates the same somewhat diagrammatically.
At each end of the station are two semaphore signals at the point where the
loop line diverges from the main line. For convenience I will refer to these
signals as the home signals.
ог
The arins and lights on the signal posts may be so arranged that the higher
arm or light refers to the main or through line whilst the lower arm
light refers to the loop line. a represents the main signal rod and b the loop
signal rod.
These signals are interlocked with the switch in the following manner :-
The rods a and b which actuate the two signals terminate in two plungers c
and d. In lowering the main line signal its plunger c is depressed and in lowering
the loop line signal its plunger d is depressed. These signals work in suitable
bearings and a plate e (herein called a locking bar) connected with or forming part
of the switch rod f passes immediately below them in such a way that neither
plunger can be depressed without passing through holes or slots in such locking
bar these holes are marked respectively 9 and h. The locking bar e moves with
the switch rod f and the slots or holes gh in such locking bar are so arranged
that the signals can only be operated when the switch is safe home either for the
main line or loop line.
The switch rod f is not rigidly connected with the stretcher bar i of the
tongue rails k k but can be brought into connection therewith by means of keys.
I prefer that this connection between the switch rod f and the stretcher bar i be
between the rails jj so that there can be no tampering with such connection
whilst the train is running over the points. Accordingly I place between the two
switch rails two locks Im in a strong cast iron case and I make them main line
and loop line respectively.
The switch rod f is locked at one end with the stretcher bar i of the tongue
rails kk of the pair of points by the two locks lm in such a way that when the
bolts of such locks are down the switch rod cannot be moved in either direction.

page_text: This may be effected by having a slot or hole in the switch rod f and so arranging
it that the bolt of one lock 1 comes against one end and the bolt of the other
lock m against the other end of the hole or slot. When therefore both bolts are
down the switch rod f can move neither to the right nor left. In the stretcher bar i
there is one notch n into which the first bolt or the second bolt can be shot
according to the position of the points. The bolts are those of locks so arranged
that the keys can only be extracted when the bolts are down and each key will
only fit its own lock. Each key should have a distinguishing feature in its
construction so that the proper key may be identified in the dark.
The interlocking of the home and distant signal may be effected in the following
way:-
The plungers c d of the two home signals are connected by a swinging bar or
floating lever p. This bar actuates an additional plunger q in such a way that
when either plunger c or d of the home signals is depressed the additional
plunger q is also depressed, but as the upper end of the additional plunger q is
slotted, the signal plunger c or d can be raised without raising the additional
plunger q.
The lower end of the additional plunger a works through a coil spring r so that
when the additional plunger q is depressed this spring is compressed. The lower
end of this additional plunger passes through one or other of two holes ss in the
locking bar e, thereby bolting it. The additional plunger q and distant signal are
interlocked by a bar t which is connected at one end to the wire working the
distant signal and at the other to the distant signal lever. The bar t and additional
plunger are interlocked by notches in such a way that when the additional
plunger is raised the bar t is locked and when the additional plunger q is
depressed it unlocks the bar t which can then be pulled to lower the distant signal.
If the home signal a or bis put up before the distant signal the additional
plunger q is held down by the bar t until that bar is moved, to bring the
notch in it opposite the notch in the additional plunger 9 when the spring r
forces the additional plunger q up and the solid side of the additional plunger
passing through the notch in the bar t locks it, thereby locking the distant
signal.
When the additional plunger q is depressed its lower extremity passes through
one of the holes s in the locking bar e and bolts it, and therefore until the distant
signal has been locked at danger by the additional plunger 9 rising and locking it
the locking bar e remains bolted.
The following is an illustration of the manner in which the invention may be
used:-
The station master desiring to receive a train say on the up main sends a
pointsman to the points with the up main key. The pointsman sets the points for
the main line, puts his key in the lock and turns it; this locks the points and
releases the locking bar e. He then operates the locking bar lever u and gives a
signal by flag or lamp to the station master to indicate that the points are set and
locked and the main signal released. The movement of the locking bar lever u
either to the position u for the main signal or to the position u² for the loop signal
acts through the 1od u³ and crank u upon the locking bare and switch rod f
moving them towards the right in the figure in the former case, and towards the
left in the latter case so as to bring the hole g or the hole has the case may be
under the plunger c or the plunger d. The station master then works his signal
lever on the platform and lowers the proper signal. This is effected for the main
line by pulling the plate v by means of the chain w so that the pin x on the
plunger c is pulled down together with this plunger by the action of the inclined
glot y
Or for the loop line by pulling the plate by means of the chain w¹ so that
the pin on the plunger d is pulled down together with this plunger by the action
of the inclined slot y'. The lowering of the home signal for main or loop effects
two things :-
(a) It bolts the locking bare by the plunger c for main line or d for loop line

page_text: entering the hole g for main or h for loop and by the plunger q entering one of the
holes s in the bar e; it bolts the points lock or m and the key remains in the
lock.
(b) It releases the distant signal by bringing the notch in the plunger 9 opposite
the bar t.
The pointsman then lowers the distant signal which again bolts the locking bar e
by locking the plunger q in one of the holes s. After the train has passed the
distant signal the pointsman puts it to danger. As soon as the train has passed
the home signal and that signal has gone to danger, he puts the locking bar
lever u to the central notch (the position seen in the figure) steps between the
rails, turns and takes out the key and the points are then free and all signals are
locked at danger. Until he pushes his distant signal lever home and so locks it
he cannot get out the points key. The slot at the upper end of the plunger q
allows the lever to return to its normal position without disengaging the said
plunger which can only be disengaged from the locking bar e by the distant
signal being put to danger by the return movement of the bar t. When this is
done the spring r returns the plunger q to the normal position in which it again
locks the bar t.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In railway point and signal apparatus a locking bar and a switch rod normally
disconnected from the points but capable of being connected therewith, and normally
disconnected from the signal, but capable of being interlocked therewith, substan-
tially as herein before described.
2. In point and signal apparatus for railways, a locking bar and switch rod such
as ef not attached rigidly to or actuated either by a stretcher bar or a signal or
signals, but locked with the stretcher bar by two locks and having holes or slots so
arranged that if the bolt of either of the locks be raised which can only be done
when the points are set fair for the road to which that bolt refers, the locking bar
and switch rod can be moved in one direction only and that movement will lock
the bolt in the stretcher bar and also when completed bring a slot or hole in the
locking bar under the plunger of the signal referring to the road for which the
points are set, and the descent of the plunger when the signal is lowered will lock
the locking bar and switch rod and consequently the bolt of the lock in the
stretcher bar and the key in the bolt while on the other hand when both lock
bolts are down the locking bar and switch rod cannot be moved and there is
not a slot of the locking bar under either signal plunger and consequently
neither signal can be moved, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described.
3. An arrangement substantially as stated in Claim I but with only one lock for
locking with the stretcher bar and one slot or hole in the locking bar, for cases in
which a signal for only one road is required.
4. In point and signal apparatus for railways an arrangement substantially as
hereinbefore described whereby the pulling off of a home signal to admit a train
to either the main or the loop line double locks the points and unlocks the distant
signal as set forth.
5. The combination of parts arranged and working substantially as hereinbefore
described and shown in the drawing constituting improved point and signal
apparatus for railways.
Deted this 30th der of Anail 1906
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent.