Improvements in Mechanical Selecting Mechanisms, applicable to Railway Switch Apparatus.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 30th Apr., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanical Selecting Mechanisms, applicable to
Railway Switch Apparatus.
A communication from S. LLOYD WIEGAND, of 146, South Sixth Strect, Phila-
delphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E., 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 relates to selectors for finding any desired mechanism in a series
of similar mechanisms and connecting such mechanisms thus selected, so that the
selected mechanism alone may be operated, and, the invention is especially applicable
to a series of railway switch operating mechanisms and mechanisms for recording
the motions thereof.
The invention consists in a series of co-operating devices whereby one of a
series of any number of mechanisms may be brought into operation to control a
Switch to the exclusion of the others as will be hereinafter more fully set
forth.
Any number of co-operating mechanisms may be employed, but in the accom-
panying drawings a ternary system, or one of progression from one set of mechanisms
to another, in groups of three, is represented.
Referring to the drawings:
Figures 1, 2 and 3, respectively, indicate the apparatus, in plan, side elevation
and section, showing the selecting plates arranged to control nine signals or switch
operating bars.
Figures 14 and 1 represent detached views of the selecting plates.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation and Fig. 28 an enlarge] perspective view of
portions of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2.
Figure 3 represents a sectional view taken on the line of Figure 1.
Figures 4 and 5 represent modifications of this invention, respectively in plan and
side elevation.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of one of the plates showing the holes therein, with
the position of the other plate indicated by dotted lines.
Figure 6 represents a vertical sectional view of an apparatus in which three
selecting plates are employed.
Figure 7 represents a view in which segmental plates are substituted for the flat
selecting plates.
Figure 8 represents a view in which selecting plates turning pivotally are substi-
tuted for the sliding plates.
Figure 9 represents another modification of the invention showing a different
arrangement of plates and pins employed.
Referring to Figures 12 and 3 of the drawing, the letter C indicates a series of
levers, nine in number, which are fulcrummed at c to a standard d of the frame H of
the apparatus. Each of these levers at its forward end, is bent downwardly or
provided with a pin, the pins or downwardly bent ends being indicated by the
letters C, CC and so on to C arranged consecutively in a row.
Beneath the pins or downwardly projecting ends of the levers are located two
sliding plates A B arranged one above the other in guide ways in the frame H in
which they are adapted to slide. In each of these plates are arranged three series
of apertures, of three each, as shown particularly in Figures 14 and 1B of the
drawings.
These apertures are so located that when the upper plate A is moved by its lever

page_text: and connecting link, the row of apertures A¹ therein will register with the pins or
bent ends C¹ and C³ of the levers C bearing them; when moved further in the
same direction, the same row of apertures will pass out of register with the said
pins and when moved still further, the second row of apertures A' will fall into
register with the pins C, C, C and when moved still further the row of holes A will
pass out of register with the pins C* C* and C and the third row of apertures A³ will
fall into register with pins C C and C' of the levers.
The apertures in the plate B which is arranged to slide below the plate A are
arranged in series of threes but in different positions, as shown in Figure 1B of the
drawings, so that when said plate is moved by its lever and link, the apertures B', B₁
and B may be brought successively into register with the apertures A¹ A' A³
so that the pin registering with either of the said apertures, may also register with
one of the apertures B¹ B and B³ and permit the lever C carrying said pin to drop
to its full extent. It will be seen that by this construction, only one pin can be
brought into register with a registering aperture in both plates, or in other words,
that the plates in their movements will bring but one aperture of each in regis-
tration, so as to permit no more than one of the levers C to be operated at a
time.
By this arrangement of the plates A and B and the registering-apertures thereof, it
will be seen that there can be a registering of any one and not more than one of the
pieces C C C effected with holes of the two plates and that in consequence of the
grouping of the apertures in the respective plates, may be brought simultaneously
into such position, to permit any of the levers C to act.
To facilitate the entrance and disengagement of the pin above mentioned in the
apertures in the plate, the ends of said pins are made conical or rounded and the
apertures the upper plate are countersunk or chamfered.
The plates A and B are respectively connected by means of links A* B* with
hand levers A and B fulcrummed to the frame H and may be operated by an
attendant or switchman.
The levers have connected to them, at one side, plates As B8 back of which work
segmental plates A' B' secured to the frame of the apparatus. As shown clearly
in Fig. 2B in connection with the lever A, the plates A'B' are provided with raised
figures on their faces corresponding with the position which the levers may be made
to assume, and the covers A³ B are provided with openings; opposite which, one
of these figures appears in different position of the levers, so that the position of
each particular lever, may be read by touch or feeling, in the absence of sufficient
light to enable the attendant to determine their position by sight. The plates A'
and B' are arranged to turn upon pivots A and B and by the links A and B
they are pivotally connected to the frame H.
C indicates the switch operating bars which are arranged to travel in guides in
the frame H. To the forward ends of these are pivotted the levers C10 which are
downwardly bent at their forward ends, said ends being forked to overset the
levers C. The levers Co have blocks C¹³ secured to them, which normally engage
the bars C and disengage therefrom, when a particular lever C is dropped,
dropping its attendant lever C and thus permitting the switch bar thereof to he
operated by the lever D¹, the other switch bars at the time being securely locked.
To each of the slides A and B is attached by angle levers A and B shown in
dotted lines in Figure 2, a series of printing types A" and B", each type of each
series marking a figure indicative of the position of the slide, the printing
character representing such position being turned round to the impression plate or
platen L by any convenient mechanism connecting the levers A" B" with the type
wheels AB".
Adjacent to these printing types, is a series of time indicating type-wheels I,
denoting hour, date and minute and fractions thereof, and operated by a clock
movement J so as to present the type showing the time at the side of the types
showing the movement; a ribbon K, of paper being fed from a suitable reel K¹
over the types and under the impression plate L, which is reciprocated to and from

page_text: the type wheels I by means of a lever M connected to the switch or signal operating
lever.
As shown in the enlarged view Fig. 24, the lever M is connected to the lever D¹
by a pair of toggle levers M¹ and the link M2 which straighten in the middle of
their travel, so as to produce an impression during both the forward and backward
motion of the lever D' in the position which they occupy after the lever D¹ has
been moved to the right and an impression of the plates is made against the
printing forms or types. A pair of rollers N operated by a ratchet wheel N¹ and
pawl N connected to the lever M serve to move the paper ribbon K progressively
after each impression; a record is thus made on the ribbon K of each switch or
signal that is operated, together with the time and date of such operation, and may
be made to distinguish between opening and closure by a type P which is retracted
from juxtaposition with the other types A" by a link P¹ connected with the
lever D'.
12
As shown in Figures 4 and 5 instead of operating the perforated slides A and B
by separate levers, a single lever A" having two motions is used to perform the
functions, and the motion of the slides A and B is at right angles to each other;
the direction of the motions of the plates A and B and the double motion of the
handles A being indicated by arrows marked in parallel position with the con-
nected links. In operating the mechanism by the lever A as shown in Figure 4
when the lever A" is moved from left to right, the plate A connected therewith by
the link A" is moved in the same direction; the links B" connecting the lever A
with the plate B merely oscillate in curved lines with the handle as indicated by
the curved arrow crossing the links B and when the lever A is moved in the
direction of the arrow between the links B" the plate B moves in a similar direction
and the link A merely oscillates in the direction of the curved arrow drawn
across it.
It will be observed that the points C₁C and C fall simultaneously into the
holes A' in the plate A at one extreme of motion of the slide A whilst on the
opposite extreme of motion of the plate A the points C7 C³ and C³ fall simul-
taneously into the holes A' and when in intermediate position the pins C C and C
simultaneously fall into the holes A³ the plate A thus serving to select the pins in
groups of three adjacent pins, the extent of motion required for the performance
of this function being equal to the distance between two parallel right lines drawn
through the centre of the outer row and the said holes.
The arrangement of holes in plate B, in relation to the pius C₁ to Co is shown in
the sectional Figure marked 4. In the plate B the series of holes marked B' B' B'
which simultaneously register with the pins C C and C' are not adjacent but are
at intervals equal to the spaces between the pins registering therewith, as are
also the series of holes marked B' B' B and the series of holes marked B* B* B*
as shown in section in Figure 4. The holes B₁ B* B* are equidistant in each
group.
The distances between each hole B₁ and the adjacent hole B' should be
sufficient (when the plate B as shown in Figure 44 is moved towards the left, as
indicated by the arrow) to support the pins C, C and C' on the top of the plate
before the pins C C and C commence to register with the holes B', B' B' and
the distance between the holes B B B' and the holes B' B* B* should be such
that the pins (C and C should rest on the top of the plate B between the
holes B B B and the holes B* B* B* before the pins C³ C and C° can enter the
holes B B B'.
The motion of the plate B from right to left is therefore attended first with
the registering of the holes B' with the pins C C and C. Continued motion
leaves these pins out of register and causes the holes B' to register with the
pins C C and C and further motion places these pins C C and Cs out of register
with the holes B and brings the holes B into register with pins C* C* and C.
A movement of the plate in the opposite direction repeats the registering of pins
and holes in a reverse order.

page_text: It will be observed that by the selection in groups and by singles from each
group, any one of the entire series of points may be selected or engaged with the
operating mechanism draw bar D and operated therewith through the links Dhacd.
the lever D¹. In the form of apparatus shown in Figure 6, three, sliding
plates A B are used; the construction and operation of these plates is the same.
as of those shown in Figures 1 2 and 3 the difference between them being that a.
greater number of mechanisms can be controlled by it.
It is not essential that the series of holes.to receive the pins be made in flat
slides or plates, as the same effect can be produced in substantially the same
manner by a series of perforated cylinders or cylindric segments 63.63 and 6 turning
one within the other as shown in Figure 7; or by making the several series of
holes in plates turning upon the axis g as shown in Figure 8; neither is it
requisite that the plates A and B be superposed one on the other, but they can
be used in conjunction with a series of pins on each of the levers C one pin on
each lever C for each plate A B and b as shown in Figure 9 of the drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion as communicated to me by ny foreign correspondent and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a mechanical selector several separate mechanisms arranged in series with
points or projections on each, susceptible of two adjustments (as to alternately
engage such mechanism with a stationary locking piece, or with an actuating
mechanism) in combination with a second series of mechanisms likewise having
points or projections on each and with two or more adjustable forms having
depressions or holes formed therein adapted to receive the points of said second
series and so arranged in series that but one of said points or projections will
register at the same time with a hole or depression in each and all of said forms
and permit the engagement of the mechanism corresponding to said points with the
operating mechanism substantially as set forth.
2. In a mechanical selector, the combination of a series of selecting levers,
having downwardly bent points or projections of the plates having apertures
arranged in series and mechanism whereby they may be operated to bring the
apertures in the plates into registration with a projection and one of a selecting
levers, to drop and release a lever of a second series and engage it with an operating
mechanism substantially as specified.
3. In a mechanical selector, the combination with the perforated sliding plates,
their operating levers and links of the sliding bars, the levers fulcrummed thereto
and forked ends and the blocks secured to said fulcrummed levers bearing normally
against a cross bar, by means of which they are locked but from which each is
released when that particular selecting bar comes into operation, substantially as
specified.
4. The combination in a mechanical selector of the fulcrummed levers perforated
selecting plates and mechanisms for operating the same, and a connected recording
printing form, whereby each particular combination selected is shown with a
mechanism operating the selected mechanism and impressing the record from the
printing form, substantially as specified.
5. The combination in a mechanical selector of the fulcrummed levers, the
selecting plates and mechanism for operating the same, the sliding bars and their
connecting levers, the printing mechanism and the time recording machine whereby
the particular bar selected and time and direction in which it is operated, is recorded,
substantially as specified.
6. In an apparatus for selecting a mechanism from a series of mechanisms the
combination of the registering points, and two or more registering forms arranged
to be independently adjusted and by their combined action control the motion of
the registering pins with the indicators to indicate the position of the operating
levers and connected parts, substantially as specified.
7. In a mechanical selecting mechanism, a number of mechanisms arranged in

page_text: series, each to be separately operated by a single actuating mechanism and
controlled in engagement therewith by the registration of projecting points with
two or more independently adjustable forms, in combination with a printing or
marking form connected with each of the adjustable forms and an impressing
mechanism connected with and operated by said single actuating mechanism
substantially as set forth.
8. In a mechanical selecting mechanism, a number of mechanisms arranged in
series to be separately operated by a single actuating mechanism and controlled
in engagement separately therewith by the combined adjustment of two or more
adjustable forms, constructed and arranged as set forth in combination with two or
more dials and covers therefor each connected with one of the adjustable forms and
provided with characters, indicative to the sense of touch of the adjustment of each
adjustable form, and the several dials together indicative of the mechanism of the
series in connection with the actuating mechanism.
9. In a mechanical selecting and recording mechanism, a time measuring instru-
ment having connected to operate therewith printing or embossing wheels indicative
of the time measures and fractions thereof, a series of printing or embossing forms
connected with and moved by the adjustable selecting forms, in combination with
an impressing mechanism, a recording surface operated by a connection with the
actuating mechanism moving the selected mechanism then engaged therewith and
arranged to record the selection and time on such recording surface substantially
as set forth.
10. In a selecting mechanism having severally separately operating mechanisms
singly controlled in engagement with an actuating mechanism by the combined
operation of two or more adjustable forms, the combination therewith, of a
recording surface moved by the actuating mechanism, a printing or marking form
indicating the direction of motion of the actuating mechanism and connected there-
with and operated thereby with a series of printing or marking forms connected
with and actuated by the selecting forms, a series of time printing forms
connected with a time measuring instrument and an impressing mechanism con-
nected with and actuated by the single actuating mechanism simultaneously with
the moving of each of the selected and engaged mechanisms substantially as
Bet forth.
Dated this 27th day of October 1891
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.