Improvements in Operating Signals on Railways.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 16th July, 1896-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Operating Signals on Railways.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT SYKES, Senior, of 15, Vernon Road, High Street,
Clapham, in the County of Surrey, Telegraph Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to improvements in railway signalling and consists
of means whereby two or more signals may be operated by one lever in a signal
cabin, the position of the switch points determining electrically as to which of the
signals shall be lowered by the movement of the one operating lever.
The second portion of my invention consists in improvements whereby any
malicious tampering with the wires of signals or any movement of the wire outside,
the arm cannot be deflected unless the signalman in the signal cabin has operated
his respective lever for the particular signal.
In the first portion of my invention I arrange an ordinary balance lever on the
signal post with a wire connection from the operating lever in the signal cabin to
this balance lever. An upright rod is connected to two or more sway beams,
according to the number of arms to be worked. One end of the sway beam is
Connected to the semaphore arm and the other end works through a box on the
signal post. One or more shutters or blades with openings work cross-wise of the
levers in the box and these blades or shutters are connected electrically to
the points governing the signals. To connect the circuit up from the battery in
the cabin to the switch points and from there to the box on the signal post and
back to the signal cabin a connection at the back of the operating lever in the
signal cabin is provided by which, when the catch-handle is unworked and the
catch-rod down, the circuit is broken, and it requires the catch-handle to be raised
to complete the circuit.
The action of this portion is as follows:-
Assuming, for the purposes of explanation, only one switch point. There would
be two arins on the signal post. The shutter or lever electrically connected to the
switch point would be in such a position that the hole in the shutter is opposite the
rod connected to the sway beam of the signal which is not required to be lowered
and a blank or solid part of the shutter or blade would be opposite the rod connected
to the sway beam working the signal which is required to be lowered; consequently
when the signalman works his operating lever he completes the circuit at the back
of the lever and in working the balance lever on the post forces up the sway beam
of the signal which is required to be lowered, according to the normal position of
the switch point, the shutter or blade forming the fulcrum for that sway beam so
that the signal is deflected. When the switch point is moved over for the other
sigual the shutter or blade is operated too and the fulcrum is changed for the other
sway beam when the signalman operates his lever in the signal cabin. There
With
would be one shutter or blade for each pair of switch points concerned.
this portion of my invention the circuit need not come through and be completed
by the movement of the signal lever although it is undoubtedly desirable.
With the second portion of my invention I arrange a downright rod from the
balance lever on the signal post to be above a single lever and in direct straight
line with it, fixed anywhere suitable on the post. The signal arm is connected to
a point on the balance lever nearer the weight. The single lever at the bottom of
the downright rod on the post is connected electrically to contacts at the back of

page_text: the catch-rod of the operating lever in the signal cabių. When the signalman
pulls his lever he completes the circuit and brings the single lever on the signal
post into a direct straight line with the downright rod from the balance lever, that
is, the preliminary action of the movement of the catch-handle. Upon now
working his operating lever the single lever on the post ncts as a fulcrum for the
downright rod and the other conneting rod from the arm to the balance lever is
moved upward deflecting the arm. It will, therefore, be seen that unless the
signalman has moved is catch-handle and made electrical connection that anybody
tampering with the wire outside will simply move the balance lever without moving
the semaphore arm.
Dated this 16th day of October 1895.
WILLM. ROBT. SYKES,
Applicant.
Improvements in Operating Signals on Railways.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT SYKES, Senior, of 15 Vernon Road, High Street,
Clapham, in the County of Surrey, Telegraph Engineer, 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 has reference to improvements in railway signalling and con-i-ts
of men wereby two or more signals may be operated by one lever in a signal
cabin, the position of the switch points determining electrically as to which of the
signals shall be lowered by the movement of the one operating lever.
My invention also relates to improvements whereby any malicious tampering
with the wires of signals or any movement of the wire outside, the arm cannot be
deflected unless the signalman in the signal cabin has operated his respective lever
for the particular signal.
In the first portion of my invention I arrange an ordinary balance lever on the
signal post with a wire connection from the operating lever in the signal cabin to
this balance lever. An upright rod is connected to two or more sway beams,
according to the number of arms to be worked. One end of the sway beam is
connected to the semaphore arm and the other end works through a box on the
signal post. One or more shutters or blades with openings work cross-wise of the
ends of the levers or sway beams in the box on the post and these blades or
shutters are connected electrically to the points governing the signals. To connect
the circuit up from the battery in the cabin to the switch points and from there
to the Lox on the signal post and back again to the signal cabin a connection at
the back of the operating lever in the signal cabin is provided by which, when
the catch-handle is unworked and the entch-red down, the circuit is broken, and it
requires the catch-handle to be raised to complete the circuit.
With the second portion of my invention I arrange a doanright rod from the
Lalance lever on the signal pust to be above a single lever and in direct straight
line with it, fixed anywhere suitable on the post. The signal arm is connected to
a point on the balance lever nearer the weight. The single lever at the bottom of
the downright rod on the post is connected electrically to contacts at the back of
the catch-rod of the operating lever in the signal cabin. When the signalninu pulls
bis lever he completes the circuit and brings the single lever on the signal post
into a direct straight line with the downright rod from the balance lever, that is,
the preliminary action of the movement of the catch-handle. Upon now working
his operating fever the single lever on the post nets as a fulcrum for the downright
rud and the other connecting rod from the arm to the balance lever is moved
upward deflecting the arm. It, will, therefore, be seen that unless the signalman

page_text: with the wire outside will simply move the balance lever without moving the
semaphore arm.
In order that my invention may be better understood and more readily carried
into effect I will describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which,
Figure 1 illustrates my apparatus fitted to a four arm signal pist.
Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan of the switch points showing the electrical connections to my
apparatus on the signal post.
Figure is an enlarged front view of my apparatus on the signal post, showing
the sway beams and rad connections to the signal arms, one of the sway beams
being in the worked position.
Figure 5 is a side view of my apparatus on the signal post.
Figure 6 is a side view of the rod connections to the signal arms and the ends of
the sway beams.
Figure 7 illustrates a modification of my apparatus on the signal post in
connection with the second portion of my invention.
The same numbers refer to the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.
1 is the ordinary balance weight lever on the signal post, 2 is the box or case
containing the electrical apparatus (arm selectors) on the signal post, 3, 4, 5 and 6
are the sway beams of which are connected to the upright rods working the signal
arms at one end the other end of the said sway beams working between the electro-
magnets within the case or box 2. 7 is the rod connecting the sway beams to the
balance weight lever, 8 and 9 are the centres upon which the sway beams work.
10 10 10 10 are the electro-magnets in the box on the signal post connected to
11 and 12 are
the circuit selectors at the switch points hereinafter referred to.
the armatures of the electro-magnels with their pins or shutters 13" 13" normally
in a central position between the sway beams 3 and 1, and 5 and 6, respectively
(Figure 5). In Figure 3 14, 15 and 16 are the electrical circuit electors or
switches connected to the switch points, 17 is the signal lever in the cabin properly
interlocked with the points 18, 19 and 20. 21 is a contact operating in connection
with the drop-box of the catch-rod; said contact is normally broken but when
the catch-handle 17 is raised the contact points 22 and 23 are connected, joining
up battery 24.
In Figure 7, which illustrates a modification of my apparatus on the signal post
in connection with the second portion of my invention, 25 is the balance weight
lever which takes the place of the sway beam in the preceding figures; this lever
has no fixed centre but in the normal position rests on a block 26 on the lever
plate and is kept in position by a guide 27. 28 is the upright rod leading to the
rignal arm, 29 is a downright rod working through a bearing in the top of the
box 30, 30 is the box on the signal post containing an electro-magnet 31, 32 is
the single lever shown in its normal position and 33 is an armature attached to
the said lever. 34 is the ordinary signal wire leading from the lever 35 in the
signal cabin to the balance weight lever 25 on the post, 30 is a trigger or catch-
handle contact worked by the catch-handle 35°. 37 is the battery for energizing
I show the rod 29
the electro-magnet 31 when the catch-handle 35 is raised.
having an upward extension which may be connected to a shunting arm fixed below
the ordinary signal arm on the post.
The operation of my invention is as follows:-
-
Referring to Figure 3, which shows the apparatus in the normal condition, if
the wire from the operating lever 17 in the signal cabin to the balance lever 1
on the post should be operated or pulled maliciously without the sanction of the
signalman, it is a feature of my invention that no operation of the signal arm will
take place, because when the wire is pulled the balance weight lever 1 is operated
and the rod 7 is thrust upward moving upward the ends of the sway beams 3, 4, 5
and 6 in the box 2 on the signal post which meet with no obstructions, that is to

page_text: gay, the armatures 11 and 12, as the case may be, not being attracted in consequence
of the signalman not having operated his lever 17 to make contact at points 22
and 23 the ends of the sway beams not connected to the upright rods to the signal
arms will simply move upward and no deflection of the arms takes place.
I will now describe the action of my invention in the case in which the signalman
wishes to get the top arm A for the passage of a train towards A' (Figure 3).
Assuming the switch points to be in a correct position for such a movement, the
signalman operates his catch-handle 17 thereby raising the drop box and the
contact points 22 and 23 are connected setting up a current from battery 24 19
circuit selector 14, from 14 to circuit selector 13, from 15 to circuit selector 16 and
from 16 to electro-magnet 10 (Fig. 4) in the box 2 on the signal post, the
armature 12 is attracted and the shutter or pin 13 is moved obstructing the
upward movement of that end of the sway beam 5 not connected to the upright
rod to the signal arm. Upon the signalman now pulling the lever 17, the rod
connecting the other end of the sway beam 5 to the signal arin A is moved upward
deflecting the arm. It will be obvious that should any of the points 18, 19 or 20
be in the wrong position the circuit to magnet 10 would be broken down,
consequently the circuit not being completed the arm could not be deflect 1.
In order to get the lower arm D for a train going towards D', the points 18
would have to be closed moving the circuit selector or switch 14 which action sets
up a current from battery 24, through cirenit selector 14 back to electro-magnet 10%
(Fig. 3) and thence to earth. The movement of lever 17 would now operate the
lower arm D, the action in connection with its sway beam and shutter being the
same as that described with reference to arm A. The operation of the arms B
and would be similar, that is to say, the points 19 or 20, as the case may be,
would have to be operated before the respective signal arm could be lowered.
Although arms are illustrated in connection with 4 rods, yet it is obvious that
any number might be arranged to operate in the same manner.
Referring to the second portion of my invention illustrated in Figure 7, it will
be seen that any unauthorized movement of the signal wire 34 independently of
the signalman will not deflect the arm. Should it be attempted the balance weight
lever 25 is moved and the rod 29 simply slides through the top of the box 30
without effecting any movement on the signal art, but should a shunt arm be
connected to the upward extension of the and 29 (as before mentioned), it would
operate that.
Whin the main signal arm is required to be operated by the
movement of the lever 35 in the signal cabin, the catel-handle 35 is moved and
the trigger contact 36 is worked bringing battery 37 into connection with clectro-
magnet 31 in the box 30 on the post energizing the same and attracting the single
lever 32 into the upright (dotted) position, directly under the rod 29, so that when
the lever 35 is pulled over the downright rod 29 engages with the top of lever 32
and the upright rod 28 connected to the main signal arm is forced upward defleeting
the arm, the pin of red 29 acting as the fulcrum.
The wire running from battery 37 could be tal en to an electrical fouling bar, or
a gate, or switch point.
Although I have only described trigger contacts and circuit selectors, yet it is
obvious that I can carry the wire to a relay which may work in connection with
other apparatus.
Having now particularly describe 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. In railway signalling, the combination of an electrical signal arm selector or
selectors on the signal post for bring one or more signal arms into operation as
may be desired, with one or more sway beams carried by one rod or equivalent
device, electric circuit selectors at the switch points, and a trigger or other contact
operated by the signalmun, substantially as set forth and described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 2. In railway signalling, electro-magnetic signal arm selectors substantially as
described in combination with the point connections and circuit selectors at the
switch points for controlling the signal arms as the points may direct or permit,
for the purpose and in the manner substantially as set forth and described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. In railway signalling, a lever or trigger contact switch, or a separate switch
not attached to the lever, for transmitting a current to electro-magnetic signal
arm selectors, in combination with the arrangement of circuit selectors at the
switch points, for controlling the signals according to the positions of the points,
substantially as herein described, for the purposes specified, and as illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
4. In railway signalling, electrical signal arm selectors or controllers on the
signal post in combination with the usual signal wire or other signal operating
device, operating so as to prevent the manipulation of the said signal or signals
unless the necessary current is transmitted to allow of such operation, substantially
as described, for the purpose specified and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
5. In railway signalling, the combination of parts as illustrated in Figures 1
to 6 of the drawings inclusive, substantially as described and for the purposes
specified.
6. In railway signalling, the combination with the ordinary connections to the
balance weight lever and signal arm on the post, of a contact device operated by
the signal lever in the cabin, an electro-magnetic device comprising the electro-
magnet 31 operating the lever 32 or its equivalent, and the downright rod 29 or
its equivalent, the whole operating so that the unauthorized manipulation of the
signal wire will not allow of the signal being put to the "alright" position unless
an electric current is transmitted by the operation of the lever 35 in the cabin to
allow of rod 29 forming the fulcrum upon which the balance weight lever 25 can
be operated, substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 7 of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th de of Luly 1806
July 1806
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, Fel. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
70 & 71 Palace Chambers, Westminster, S.W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.