Improvements in Apparatus for Looking Railway Signals.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left. 23rd Sept., 1892-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Looking Railway Signals.
I, ROBERT GAMBLE MARKS of 10 Russell Street Thornes, Wakefield, Yorks.
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in signalling apparatus for railways, and
has for its object to provide an automatic arrangement whereby a signalman is
prevented from operating the signals allowing a train to pass into the station, while
another train is being shunted from the main line into a siding. This arrangement
is such that the cross over lever in the signal-box is ordinarily held by a catch, and
is prevented from being actuated until the catch is released. This catch is
connected to a locking device placed near the home signal lever, so that when the
catch is moved from the cross-over lever, it releases a pivotted plate, belonging
to the locking device, and allows it to fall over the home signal lever, holding the
lever and preventing the signalman from actuating it.
Referring to the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my apparatus applied to the cross over and
home signal levers of a signal-box;
Fig. 2 a side view and Fig. 3 a plan of the locking device used in connection
with the home signal levers.
The apparatus is mounted upon a shelf s, placed in the signal-box, behind the
row of levers. On this shelf is fixed a standard m having a lever pivotted at n
upon it, which has at one end a projection adapted to pass in front of the cross
over lever C, and prevent it from being pulled forward. The other end of the
lever is provided with a stud / to which is attached the two chains o, actuating the
two locking devices for the home signal levers H and H. Each chain is attached
at its other end to a similar stud on a bell crank lever c, pivotted to the upper
part of the locking device. This device consists of a box a having two tubes e at.
its upper part, with a slot in each extending through the greater part of its length.
These tubes have cylindrical pieces e' sliding longitudinally in them, and connected
together by a plate passing through the slots. A spring is situated at the back
of each tube, pressing against the pieces e and pushing them in the forward
direction of the box.
Another plate b is pivotted at i near the bottom of the box, having a circular
hole g at its free end, which, when released, falls into the position shown in the
box a, the home signal-lever H passing through the hole g, being thus prevented
from moving forward until the plate is lifted. This plate is shown in the box a¹
in its raised position, being held therein, by the plate ; and a lip ƒ on the upper
surface of the plate b, which lip rests on the edge of the plate j, when the latter is
in its forward position, thus leaving the lever H¹ free.
On moving the lever in either direction and thus moving the catch / from the
cross-over lever C, one of the chains o is pulled, which being attached to one end
of the bell crank lever c turns it on its pivot. On the other end of the lever C is
a stud having one end of a short chain p attached, the other end of which is
connected to the plate j. Thus when the lever c is turned in the manner above
mentioned, the chain p pulls the plate j away from the lip f,-frees the plate b,
and allows it to fall onto the lever H or H'. Immediately the lever is brought
back to its ordinary position, the springs 6 returns the plate ; ready to hold the
locking plate b again when it is raised to free the home signal lever H.
By this arrangement it will be seen that the signalman cannot by forgetfulness
or inadvertance open the line for a train to pass into the station, while the cross

page_text: over lever is in its operative position, as he will have to raise the locking device
before the home signals can be put up.
Dated this 30th day of December 1891.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Locking Railway Signals.
I, ROBERT GAMBLE MARKS of 10 Russell Street Thornes Wakefield Yorks.
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 :--
My invention relates to improvements in signalling apparatus for railways, and
has for its object to provide an arrangement, whereby a signalman is prevented
from operating the signals, allowing a train to pass into a station or section while
another train is standing on a main line, either on the right line, or which may
have been shunted on to the wrong line, namely, from one line to another or out of
a siding on to the main line.
This arrangement is such that the cross over lever in the signal box is ordinarily
held by a catch, and is prevented from being actuated until the catch is released.
This catch is connected to a locking device, placed near the home signal lever, so
that when the catch is moved from the cross over lever it releases a pivotted plate,
belonging to the locking device, and allows it to fall over the home signal lever,
holding the lever and preventing the signalman from actuating it.
Referring to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my apparatus applied to the cross over and home,
signal levers of a home signal box;
Fig. 2 a side view and Fig. 3 a plan of the locking device used in connection
with the home signal levers.
The apparatus is mounted upon a shelf S, placed in the signal box, behind the
row of levers. On this shelf is fixed a standard m having a lever pivotted at n
upon it, which has at one end a projection, adapted to pass in front of the cross
over lever C, and prevent it from being pulled forward. The other end of the
lever is provided with a stud to which is attached the two chains o, actuating
the two locking devices for the home signal levers H and H. Each chain is
attached at its other end to a similar stud C₁, on a bell crank lever. c, pivotted to
the upper part of the locking device. This device consists of a box a, having two
tubes e at its upper part, with a slot in each, extending through the greater. part
of its length. These tubes have cylindrical pieces, e, sliding longitudinally in
them, and connected together by a plate passing through the slots. A spring his
situated at the back of each tube, pressing against the pieces e and pushing them
in the forward direction of the box. Another plate, b, is pivotted at i, near the
bottom of the box, having a circular hole g at its free end, which, when released,
falls into the position shown in the box a, the home signal lever. H passing through
the hole g, being thus prevented from moving forward until the plateb is lifted. This
plate is shown in the box a¹ in its raised position, being held therein, by, the plate j
and a lip on the upper surface of the plate 6, which lip rests on the edge, of, the,
plate j, when the latter is in its forward position, thus leaving the lever H' free.
On moving the lever in either direction, and thus moving the catch from the
cross over lever C, one of the chains o is pulled, which, being attached to one, end
of the bell crank lever c, turns it on its pivot. On the other end of the lever O is
a studs, having one end of a short chain p attached, the other end of which, is
connected to the plate j. Thus when the lever c is turned in the manner above
mentioned, the chain p pulls the plate away from the, lip f, frees the, plate b, and

page_text: allows it to fall on to the lever H or H'. Immediately the lever is brought back
to its ordinary position, the springs h return the plate j, ready to hold the locking
plate 6 again when it is raised, to free the home signal lever H.
Referring to the drawings filed with this Specification, which are detail views of
part of the lever & support, Figure 1 is a plan and Figure 2 a section, showing
the method of attaching the lever.
Three holes m¹ are formed in the support m, one directly in front of the centre
and one on each side. The lever is furnished with a pin P, which can take into
any one of the holes, thus holding the lever in one of three positions; in the normal
position holding the cross over lever, or in either of the side positions, releasing one
or other of the locking devices.
The pivot n is provided with a spring n' which holds the lever / down on the
support, but allows it to be raised slightly releasing the pin from the hole when
the lever is to be turned aside. It will then, immediately the pin has reached one
of the side holes cause it to enter, thus preventing the lever getting accidentally
knocked aside.
The signalman has simple instructions which indicate to him the direction in
which the lever is to be moved. A wire or chain may be connected to the plate j,
passing over pulleys and leading to the outside of the box and to mechanism
situated at a suitable point at the side of the line, so that, should it be desired, an
engine driver or fireman on an engine which has been stopped on the line, can get
off his engine and, by pulling the wire, release the locking piece, thereby preventing
another train being signalled, the signalman not having operated the crossing lever.
An additional safety guard is thus provided, if desired, the same instrument being
employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
(1) An apparatus for locking railway signals, consisting of a lever / with
projection, a hinged plate 6 with hole g, retained in open position by means of a
sliding plate, attached by a chain or wire to the lever 1, and operating substantially
as described and for the purposes specified.
(2) In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination of a lever with
projection adapted to pass in front of the cross over lever and prevent its being
actuated, with a box a, within which is hinged the locking piece b, carrying the
sliding plate j, which serves to hold the locking piece in inoperative position, the
plate being connected to one end of the lever by means of a chain or wire
and lever, pulley or the like, and withdrawn on pulling the lever to one side.
(3) The improved apparatus for locking signals, by means of which the home
signals for either the up or down trains are locked automatically by moving a
catch releasing the cross over lever, substantially as described and illustrated in the
drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1892.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.