An Improved Pointsman's Check and Indicator for Railways.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1891
Complete Specification Left 16th Apr. 1892-Accented. 21st May. 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Pointsman's Check and Indicator for Railways.
We JOHN LORD of Wilmslow in the County of Chester Merchant, and
THOMAS ROBERT LEASON of Levenshulme Manchester in the County of
Lancaster Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to prevent the occurrence of accidents and con-
sequent loss of human life upon railways, more especially such accidents as are
caused by the pointsman inadvertently turning an engine or carriage onto a line or
siding which has been blocked, or onto which he has temporarily shunted another
engine, train or carriage, or which is otherwise occupied.
This we propose to effect by providing the pointsman with a chart or indicator
of the points and lines under his charge upon which he can see at a glance the
exact state (whether blocked or clear) of each line or siding, so that the strain
upon his mind is greatly relieved and with ordinary care he is not likely to fall into
error.
In addition to which we provide each of his levers with a visible and tangible
check which in the event of his attempting to "pull over" the wrong lever will
remind him that the corresponding line or siding is blocked or occupied, so that
the possibility of mistake is reduced to a minimum.
The indicator consists of a chart or plan representing all the lines and sidings
under the charge of the pointsman, which are numbered or lettered to correspond
with his levers.
Each line and siding has an opening of convenient size at the back of which is a
disc of cardboard or other material partly white and partly red, which can be
moved by a thumb piece in front of the indicator so as to show a white or red
disc.
We prefer that the indicator should be hung on the wall just above the
handles or otherwise so as to be well in sight of the pointsman, and it will be his
duty whenever he turns an engine train or carriage onto a particular line or siding
to "block" the said line or siding by turning on the corresponding red disc on his
indicator, and to let it remain there until the "block" has been removed, when he
will turn on the white disc again; so that at any moment he can see at a single
glance what lines or sidings are occupied or otherwise blocked and which are
open.
The check consists of a metal disc hinged at the top of the lever handle and
preferably made with a spring and catch and painted red inside, so that when the
pointsman pulls over the handle to turn a train engine or carriage onto the corre
sponding line or siding he will release the catch and the red disc will spring up
and thus give an additional warning that the line or siding corresponding to that
particular lever is blocked or occupied.
On receiving the signal "line clear" he puts the lever back, and in doing so
presses down the red disc which is held by the catch until again released.
"
Immediately after putting the lever " on or "off" it will be his duty to alter
the indicator to correspond, and with this combined check and indicator it will be
almost impossible for an accident to occur owing to an engine train or carriage
being turned by the pointsman onto a "blocked" or occupied line or siding.
We would here remark that the improved check and indicator may be employed
either separately or combined, and if preferred, they may be so connected together
that upon either one being worked by hand, the other will be caused to correspond

page_text: by automatic means;-but we prefer to have them each worked by hand
independently as in that case they are a check upon each other.
Dated this 21st day of July 1891.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Pointsman's Check and Indicator for Railways.
We JOHN LORD of Wilmslow in the County of Chester Merchant, and THOMAS
ROBERT LEASON of Levenshulme Manchester in the County of Lancaster Agent,
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:—
The object of this invention is to prevent the occurrence of accidents and con-
sequent loss of human life upon railways more especially such accidents as are
caused by the pointsman inadvertently turning an engine, carriage or train onto a
siding which has been blocked or onto which he has temporarily shunted another
engine, carriage or train, or which is otherwise occupied.
The nature of our said invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed or carried into practical effect will be readily understood on reference to
the annexed sheet of drawings and the following explanation thereof.
"
For the purposes of our invention we provide the pointsman with a chart or
indicator representing the points and lines under his charge upon which he can see
at a glance the exact state (whether "blocked or clear) of each line, siding or
bay, so that the strain upon his mind of having to trust principally to his memory
is greatly relieved, and with ordinary care he is not likely to fall into error, in
addition to which we provide each of his levers (as hereinafter described) with a
visible and tangible check or reminder which in the event of his attempting to
move the wrong lever will remind him that the corresponding line, siding or bay
is blocked or occupied so that the possibility of mistake is reduced to a minimum.
The indicator as above mentioned consists of a chart or plan (see Fig. 1 on the
drawings) representing all the lines, crossings, sidings and bays under the charge of
the pointsman which are numbered or lettered to correspond with his levers, Nos. 1
and 2 being main up lines, Nos. 3 and 4 main down lines and Nos. 5, 6, and 7
sidings or bays.
Each line, siding, and bay has an opening a, of suitable size and form (shown
circular on the drawing) at the back of which is a disc or shutter (see edge
view Fig. 2 and face view Fig. 3) made of metal or other suitable material partly
white and partly red (as shown by vertical lines) which can be moved by a thumb
piece or button c in front of the indicator so as to show a white or a red disc
Nos. 1, 2, 3, being shown at Fig. 1 as "clear" and 4, 5, 6, and 7 "blocked."
We prefer that the indicator should be hung on the wall just above the handles
or otherwise so as to be well in sight of the pointsman, and it will be his duty
whenever he turns an engine, train, or carriage onto a particular line, siding or bay
to "block" the same by turning the corresponding red disc on his indicator by
means of the button c and to let it remain there until the "block" has been
removed when he will turn on the white disc again so that at any moment he can
see at a single glance which lines, sidings or bays are occupied, or otherwise
"blocked" and which are open or "clear."
The check or reminder consists of a metal disc d (see Figs. 4 and 5) which is
hinged to a split tube or cap e fixed on the handle of the lever and preferably
made with a spring and catch and painted red inside (or marked "block"
or both)
so that when the pointsman forces back the handle as shown at Figs. 4 and 5 so
as to turn a train engine or carriage onto the corresponding line, siding or bay, he

page_text: will release the catch by pressing upon the button or push and the red disc d will
spring up and thus give an additional warning that the line, siding, or bay
corresponding with that particular lever is "blocked" or occupied.
On receiving the signal "line clear" or having otherwise disposed of the obstacle
he puts the lever back again into the dotted position (Fig. 5) and in doing so
presses down the red disc d with his hand, which is held by the catch until again
released.
"
Immediately after putting the lever "on or "off" it will be his duty to alter
the indicator to correspond, and with this combined check it will be almost
impossible, for an accident to occur owing to an engine, train or carriage being
turned by the pointsman onto a "blocked" or occupied line or siding.
It will be evident that the check or reminder being removable may be used
separately and also that the indicator may be used separately and both worked by
hand independently or they may be used in combination, and if thought preferable
they may be connected together and made to work automatically as shown at
Figs. 6 and 7 but we prefer to have them each worked by hand independently
as in that case they act as a check upon each other.
Referring to Figs. 6 and 7 it will be seen that the disc or shutter b is connected
by a weighted chain h passing over pulleys to the lever f so that the movement of
the lever sets the disc or shutter to correspond automatically, and on the axis of
the red disc d at the top of the handle, there is a small toothed pinion i gearing
with a toothed quadrant k provided with a weighted lever / which will automatically
open or close the disc as the position of the lever is altered.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. The improved pointsmans chart or indicator representing the points
and lines under his charge each line siding or bay being provided with an aperture
behind which is a disc or shutter partly white and partly red (cr any other color)
so that by setting the latter by hand (after each movement of his lever) the
pointsman can always see at a glance the exact state (whether "blocked" or other-
wise) of every part of the line under his charge, substantially as herein before
described and illustrated by the drawings annexed.
Secondly. We claim connecting the shutter or disc of the pointsman's indicator
or chart by means of a weighted chain or otherwise to the lever in such a way
that whenever the lever is moved the shutter or disc is automatically caused to
give the corresponding indication.
Thirdly. We claim the pointsman's check consisting of a disc or cap attached
either permanently or temporarily to the handle of the lever, and opened or closed
by the hand of the pointsman as he moves the lever over into the "blocked" or
"clear" position.
Fourthly. We claim the combination with the hinged disc or cap of the
pointsman's check or reminder attached to the lever as above described of a
weighted lever or quadrant in such a manner that on the movement of the lever
in either direction the weight shall automatically cause the hinged disc or cap to
assume the position necessary to give the warning or indication required.
Dated this 14th dow of Anril 1800
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicants.