AN IMPROVED M PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Broughton, of 3, Hanover Cottages,
Regent's Park, in the County of Middlesex, and Robert Stephens
and Guss Alfred Bradley, both of No. 18, Green Street, Paddington,
in the said County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
M
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Broughton,
Robert Stephens, and Guss Alfred Bradley at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 20th
February 1873.
We, FREDERICK BROUGHTON, of 3, Hanover Cottages, Regent's Park,
in the County of Middlesex, and ROBERT STEPHENS and Guss ALFRED
BRADLEY, both of No. 18, Green Street, Paddington, in the said County
of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for

page_text: "AN IMPROVED MODE OF LOCKING RAILWAY SIGNALS AND POINTS," to be as
follows:-
The object of this Invention is for the prevention of accidents on
railways through the wrong, wilful, or negligent arrangement or working
of the points and signals, whereby it shall be impossible for a signalman
to lower distant signal and station semaphore for the free passage of
main line trains without having previously locked and secured all side
entrances to up and down lines, such control being secured by a certain
number of levers to be worked in a signal box, connected with which
are rods working by means of cranks; the ends of the rods are made to
pass into the bars of the shunting levers through apertures made for
their reception, and so locking or fixing the various points of sidings
and cross rails, and preventing any admission of trains on the main lines
when a through train is to pass, after which they can be again released,
and be under the control of the shunter if required.
And in order that our Invention may be readily understood, reference
is made to the accompanying Drawings, which shew the principle of
the said Invention; though it may be modified and extended to suit any
arrangement of lines, and also adapted to any existing system of points
and signals. The same letters of reference refer to like parts through-
out.
A is a signal box containing a number of levers. The levers B to which
are connected the rods B are for locking the points C on the shunting
levers D, and preventing their movement after the ends of the rods (C)
have passed through the bars (D) as shown. E are the cranks; F, the
main line rails, cross rails and sidings; G is a semaphore signal worked
by the two levers G³, as shown; H are levers and rods for working
distant signals, which are locked by means of the levers B having
brackets attached to the back near the bottom, which so acts in con-
junction with its companion levers H that the points are of necessity
locked or secured before the distant signal (in connection with H) can
be lowered for the train to proceed.

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, FREDERICK
BROUGHTON, of 3, Hanover Cottages, Regent's Park, in the County of
Middlesex, and ROBERT STEPHENS and Guss ALFRED BRADLEY, both
of No. 18, Green Street, Paddington, in the said County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Frederick Broughton, Robert Stephens,
and Guss Alfred Bradley, Her special licence that we, the said Frederick
Broughton, Robert Stephens, and Guss Alfred Bradley, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Frederick
Broughton, Robert Stephens, and Guss Alfred Bradley, our exccutors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
thercin expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
MODE OF LOCKING RAILWAY SIGNALS AND POINTS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said Frederick Broughton, Robert
Stephens, and Guss Alfred Bradley, our executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.

page_text: to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This Invention consists of an apparatus for locking points and
sidings and signals, and controlling the same for the more safely
conducting the traffic, and preventing accidents to passenger and other
trains during shunting and stoppages, or trains running through stations,
and thus preventing the possibility of the signalman in charge of points,
crossings, and signals, committing an error in signalling advancing
trains or trampering with points or signals, reference being made in the
following Specification to accompanying Drawings, Nos. 1, 2, and 3.
The mode of securing points, distant and station semaphores, during
the passage of a train is by means of a simple locking apparatus attached
to and connected with the points close to or opposite their junction with
the rails, see Drawing No. 1, a detailed description of which is given
hereafter. This appliance is not in the signal box, but outside, and the
said points may be any distance therefrom and connected with the
working lever in box, either by hollow or solid rods, gas tubing, wire
rope, or any other contrivance as can be hereafter applied, and is
applicable to one or a series of points or signals. There is further
attached to the inside of rail of up and down line a mechanical
contrivance attached to and in connection with the rods controlling
points and signals which lock the levers in signal box, so as to prevent
the signalman in charge (unless done wilfully) from moving or
interfering with the points and signals after they are once set, which
apparatus, locking point or plate, can only be released by the train or
engine having passed clear of the signal box or station, or such other
point near to or distant from the same mechanical contrivance or
apparatus as may be thought advisable; attached thereto is a means or
appliance for releasing the said locking point or plate in case of accident,
and it is so arranged by means of an appliance fixed in signal box, and
shewn at Figs. 7 and 8, on Drawing No. 2, so that should it be
absolutely necessary to release this locking apparatus or mechanical
contrivance in case of accidents, only the signalman must use his lever
for unlocking points and signals at the same time that he uses the
appliance for unlocking this special contrivance, seen at Fig. 1, on
Drawing No. 2, on releasing which it being counterbalanced the points
and signals and this special contrivance immediately resume the
position in which they were previous to his having disturbed the same.

page_text: This is not for general use, but only in cases of accident. There is also
attached and running from sidings and junctions a short supernumerary
line of metals terminating with a strong and substantial stop, so that
should the driver in charge of train or engine in siding or junction
persist in proceeding against signals, the locking and controlling points
are so arranged that he would find himself brought up to the stop or
supernumerary line or siding, and by no possible means could he foul
or get on to main line. Drawing No. 3, explains various modifications
of locking appliances, with cover for same.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS. (No. 1.)
A is a signal box containing a number of levers. The levers B to
which are connected the rods B are for locking the points C on the
shunting levers D and preventing their movement after the ends of the
rods C have passed through the bars D, as shewn; E are the cranks;
F and F, the main line rails, cross rails, and supernumerary rails; G is
a semaphore signal worked by the two levers G¹, as shewn; H are levers
and rods for working distant signals, which are locked by means of the
levers B, having a bracket attached to the back near the bottom, which
so acts in connection with its companion levers H that the points are of
necessity locked or secured before the distant signal (in connection
with H) can be lowered for the train to proceed; J are the stops to
supernumerary rails.

page_text: Fig. 4, plan of the above shewing mode of bolting down the same.
Fig. 3, longitudinal section shewing pin locked into rail retaining
bar.
Fig. 4, cross section shewing as Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 A, bar from metals, shewing hole for pin to slide in. B, C,
and D, three different methods of locking pin and continuing bar either
for semaphore or other points.
Fig. 6, A and B, shewing two appliances of the above locked;
C and D, locking bar to correspond with the above.
Having thus described the nature and objects of this our Invention
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, we declare that what
we claim and desire to be secured to us by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent are the following, or any mere modification
thereof,-
Firstly. Simplicity of construction in working levers, points, and 2
signals jointly by means of locking points, signal sidings, and junctions,
be they one or many, by one operation only, so that by the adoption of
this Invention it shall be impossible for any accident to occur at
stations, sidings, or junctions.
Secondly. The absolutele safety of trains in passing stations, be the 2
same terminal or otherwise, on the adoption of this Invention.
Thirdly. A self-acting locking and unlocking apparatus or contrivance
in connection with and attached to the controlling rods for locking
points and signals, so as to prevent the possibility of a mistake being
made by the signalman in charge, unless done wilfully.
Fourthly. A simple and effectual apparatus or mechanical contrivance
for locking points close to their junction, with metals so arranged as to
prevent the possibility of the same being tampered with or unlocked, or
opened by any person except the signalman only in charge of the same.
3

page_text: Fifthly. The construction of a supernumerary set of metals in con-
nection with sidings or junction, so as to prevent a driver fouling or
coming on main line without permission of signalman in charge.
Sixthly. The points being locked close to their connection with rails,
it is impossible for the same to open by expansion the same as has
occurred through points being locked in signal box some distance from
points, thus preventing contraction or expansion through atmospheric
influences.
In witness whereof, we, the said Frederick Broughton, Robert
Stephens, and Guss Alfred Bradley, have hereunto set our hands
and seals, this Eleventh day of August, in the year of our Lord,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
FREDERICK BROUGHTON. (L.S.)