IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING, LOCKING, AND CONTROLLING THE ACTION OF RAILWAY SWITCHES, POINTS, AND SIGNALS OR SIGNS FOR THE PURPOSE OF MORE SAFELY CONTROLLING THE TRAFFIC ON RAILWAYS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Baines, of the Railway Plant Works,
Soho, Smethwick, in the County of Stafford, Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING, LOCKING, AND
CONTROLLING THE ACTION OF RAILWAY SWITCHES, POINTS, AND SIGNALS OR
SIGNS FOR THE PURPOSE OF MORE SAFELY CONTROLLING THE TRAFFIC ON
RAILWAYS."
Scaled the 29th April 1878, and dated the 6th March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Baines at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th March 1878.
I, WILLIAM BAINES, of the Railway Plant Works, Soho, Smethwick,
in the County of Stafford, Engineer, do hereby declaro the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING, LOCKING, AND
CONTROLLING THE ACTION OF RAILWAY SWITCHES, POINTS, AND SIGNALS OR SIGNS
FOR THE PURPOSE OF MORE SAFELY CONTROLLING THE TRAFFIC ON RAILWAYS," to be
as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for
working, looking, and controlling the action of railway switches, points,

page_text: E
and signals or given signs for the purpose of more safely controlling
traffic on railways, and consists, first, in substituting for the ordinary
drawbar or spring catch which is carried by the hand levers employed to
work the signals and switches of railway a rotary bar or rod which by
the touch of a man's hand can be caused partly to rotate, and so cause a
curved arm upon it to take in or out of the notches in the ordinary fixed
quadrant or bar provided for its reception. The rotary bar is continued
downwards along the lever, and by a quick thread or inclined surface
upon it operates the locking gear, by preference such as is described in
the Specification of a former Patent granted to me, No. 779, in the year
1871, arranged so that the movement of the locking bolts of the signal
and switch levers shall effect the locking and interlocking of all con-
flicting or antagonistic switch and signal levers, and shall set free such
Gint

page_text: In the Specification of the Patent before mentioned I also described
an improvement in the system of signalling, technically termed block
system, which consists in the levers raising the signal or signals to
danger when the lines or one of them require to be blocked. This lover
5 becomes self-locked, and cannot be relieved and the signal lowered until
after the train has passed the next station ahead, and the man haš
relieved it by sending a message back, and has so. freed the lever from
the locks, and this was effected by an electric current oporating upon à
sliding bar or rotary disc. I now secure to the rotary diso or sliding bar
O a curved or bent arm, with a bevilled end to enter a corresponding
bevelled recess in the lever or detents or parts connected with them,
so as when a lover is moved it shall cause the resetting of the locking
apparatus into the locking position. A tumbler weight or friction may
be used to obviato any rebound of the rotary disc or bar whenever it has
5 been acted upon by the working of the lovers, and I cause all the
switches to be locked, and the shunting all to be done on one or more
lines, as the case, may be, before the message that froes the signal or
signals at the station behind can be sent back. The lever at the next
station ahead above alluded to, having the control of the signals, locks or
causes all the switches and catch points or levers that work them to be
locked before or at the time the said lever is moved. I also apply the
abovo arrangement of self-locking block apparatus when using a rotary
detent for the switch and signal levers, as herein-before described, thus
rendering the block system more safe. In order to more safely conduct
5 the traffic at large stations, whero several junctions are located together,
or where there are a quantity of lines intersecting cach other, and
requiring several locking or interlocking apparatus worked by various
signalmen, say A, B, and C, and to provent collisions caused by contra-
dictory signals being given by the different men to trains on the
converging lines, I cause by this Invention the several different
apparatus to have control over cach other, that is to say, whilst A is
worked B and C are neutral and locked. If the signals of A are whistled
off the levers working the signals and catch points in machines B and C
must first be locked by certain levers in machine A, when pulled over
to work the traffic that is consigned to it, a connection is formed for the
purpose of actuating or giving motion to a bar or rotary diso provided
with holes or notches for the purpose of locking the above-mentioned levers
in B and Ò, or the detents or parts connected therowith. In like manner,
hen machino B is worked, A and O are neutral and looked, and so on,
May
-

page_text: for a greater number of machines. This arrangement is more especially
applicable when the signals and switches are interlocked by apparatus
such as is described in the Specification herein-before mentioned.
To give greater security and stability to the movable tongues or points of
railway switches I work them by an eccentric, two opposite segments of t
which are struck from the centre of the axis by which such eccentric is
carried, these two segments being those nearest to and furthest from such
axis. The eccentric is received between two rollers carried by a short bar
connected to the tongue or point, so that by turning the eccentric the
tongue or point may be moved into either of its two positions, and bo
securely locked when in either position. The axis of the eccentric may
be turned by light rods or wires connected to the signal mechanism, and
by forming the eccentric in the manner above described the signal may
be first changed before moving the tongue or point, which will remain
locked until the signal is changed.
For the purpose of giving audible or fog signals to passing trains I
employ two or more surfaces of wood, bone, or other hard substances, and
cause them to vibrate or beat against each other by the wheels. of the
passing train acting upon a treadle or lever.
'
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Baines in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 6th September 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BAINES, of the Railway Plant Works, Soho, Smethwick, in tho County of
Stafford, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of March, 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 suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Baines, Her special
license that I, the said William Baines, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Baines, my execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term

page_text: therein 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR WORKING, LOCKING, AND CONTROLLING THE ACTION OF RAILWAY
SWITCHES, POINTS, AND SIGNALS OR SIGNS FOR THE PURPOSE OF MORE SAFELY.
CONTROLLING THE TRAFFIC ON RAILWAYS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Baines, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
O said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office within six.
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Baines, do hereby declaro.
5 the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for
working, locking, and controlling the action of railway switches, points,
and signals or given signs for the purpose of more safely controlling
traffic on railways.
In place of the ordinary draw bar or spring catch which is carried by
the hand levers employed to work the signals and switches of railway I
use a rotary bar or rod which by the touch of a man's hand can be caused
5 partly to rotate, so as to cause a curved arm upon it to take in or out of
the notches in the ordinary fixed quadrant provided for its reception,
whilst at the same time the rotary bar by a quick thread or inclined
surfaco operates locking gear, such as is described in the Specification of
a former Patent granted to me No. 779, in the year 1871, arranged so
O that the movement of the locking bolts of the signal and switch levers
shall effect the locking and interlocking of all conflicting or antagonistic
switch and signal lovers, and shall set free the locking bolts of such of
the lovers as do not conflict.
Figure 1 is a side view, and Figure 2 a front view of a signal or switch
5 lever with its rotary bolt and locking gear. a is the axis of the lever, and
of a series of other similar lovers arranged side by side in tho usual way..
The lower part of the lover consists of a casting b, and the socket 6º

page_text: forns a part of it; 6 is the hand bur fixed in this socket; c is a fixed
quadrant or arc, it has notches c¹³, c', in it to receive the bolt by which
the lever is locked when home either in its front or back position; dis
the axis of the rotary bolt d'; it has a thumb piece at its upper end, and
is mounted at the back of the lover. The bolt d'is of a hoof or quadrant |
form; is a small wheel mounted on a stud at the lower end of the
axis d; e is a forked-piece which rides upon the part 6 of the signal or
switch lover, and at the upper end of this piece is an incline, which
pressing upwards constantly against the wheel ď rotates the axis d
(whenever it is free) until the bolt has entered one or other of the
notches c. The forked piece e is pressed upwards by a double leverf,
which is weighted at ƒ³, and has its fulorum at ƒª upon the piece b; e¹is
a finger or stop upon the forked piece e, and when this piece is pressed
down on unlocking the signal or switch lever from its front position, the
finger or stop presses upon the small rocker g, causing it to turn upon
the fixed axis g³, so as to free its point from a notch in the slot 6* of the
picco b into which it had previously dropped. The rocker g is fixed to or
formed in one piece with another rocker acting in connection with
another signal or switch lover, so that it is only when this other lever is
in such a position as to present a notch opposite the end of its rocker
that the rocker g is able to move. The rockers 9 and their action is also
described in the Specification of my former Patent hercin-bofore
referred to.
Tho signal or switch lever shown in the Drawing is slotted to receivo
four sets of rockers, but a fewer or a larger number will be used,
according to the number of the levers requiring to be interlocked. The
fingers or stops used in connection with the rockers which are beneath
the axis a are fixed on the link h, which is jointed to the double lever f,
and is guided at the bottom by a pin which it carries, and which is able
to work freely in and out of a hole in the bottom of the pieco b.
Figure 3 is a section taken through the fixed arc c.
Figure 5 shows an arrangement similar to that already described,
except that a quick threaded screw is substituted for the incline upon
the forked piece e.
I claim as respects this part of my Invention the combination of

page_text: Another part of my Invention has for its object to provide greater
security to trains running through stations without stopping. Tho
interlocking apparatus now commonly in uso. provents the distanco
signal being lowered for the passage of a train through a station unless
the other signals and points are in proper positions, but there is nothing
to provent the signals and points being altered after the train has passed
the distanco signal, and before it has reached the points.
Now in the Specification of my former Patent I described
a timo
measurer for protecting the facing points at junctions. I now proposo
by this Invention to uso a time apparatus conjointly with distant signals
for the purpose of proventing the position of the facing points being
changed at a station when an express or passing train is on the point of
passing through them. To effect this two distant signals are employed,
and theso signals apply only to through trains. These signals aro
arranged to be worked by one and the same lever, or two levers inter-
locking each other. The two signals are placed at different distances.
from the station or signal box, one signal, say 1,000 yards, and the other,
say 600 yards. When an express train is approaching the furthest signal
the right number of whistles will be given by the driver to indicato tho
naturo of the train approaching; the signalman will then know what to
do, and if the linō is clear the furthest signal is lowered, indicating all
right, and the nearer one by the same act is raised to danger, while at
the same time the time measurer is wound up. The driver again whistles
to indicate that he has passed the further signal, the signalman then
lowers the second signal, and in so doing raises tho further signal again
to danger, and simultaneously releases the time measurer, which is so
set to work. The time measurer continues to hold the points locked in
the position of safety until the train has passed the points by several
hundred yards, and until the time has clapsed to which tho said timo
measurer was set. Sometimes I work this arrangement in connection
with my timo measurer, patented March 22nd 1871, or any other
arrangement of the kind which will be useful where slow trains aro
passing through.
Figure 6 is a Diagram of a double line of railway with a platform
siding. a is the signal box; b, the switch or points; c, the first distance
"

page_text: and d, which it does by means of the two chains a¹, a'; these chains
being connected with two wires, ono leading to each of the signals and
working it in the usual way. By means of the ordinary interlocking
apparatus the point lever, Figure 7, locks the signal lever, Figure 8,
when the points are set for the siding, and any other point or signal 6
levers there may be at the station should interlock with this signal lever
if they interfere with the main line so as to lead to its being "fouled"
for a train running through the station. Thus when a through train is
approaching, if all is clear to allow it to pass, the lever, Figure 8, will
be unlocked and the signalman will be able to movo it over so as to 1
lower the signal c, and by the same act he sets the signal d against the
approaching train, and also locks the switch lever, Figure 7, and other
interfering lovers. At the same time also the clockwork e (see Figure 7)
is wound up, the barrel e-being caused to revolve and raise the weight e$
by the unwinding of the chain g from the barrel e³, which is caused by 1
the attachment of the chain to the signal lever, Figure 8. In order to
show this attachment more clearly the clockwork is indicated also in
Figure 8, but the position it actually occupies is that in which it is
shewn in Figuro 7, and the chain g is led to it by pulleys. Figuro 9
shows a plan of the clockwork. The approaching train indicates by a 2
whistle when the signal c is passed, and the signalman then replaces the
lever, Figure 8, lowering the signal & and raising the signal c. This
motion of the lever by slackening the chain g allows the clockwork to.
run, and it continues in motion until the train has had time to pass well
clear of the points. The clockwork actuates a disce and causes it,
during the time of running, to make a complete revolution. The disc e*
has a notch e** in its periphery, and over this notch stands the pin f
(corresponding with that shewn in Figure 1). When the clockwork has
run down the notch ex is in such a position as to allow the pin f' to
descend, and the lever, Figuro 7, is then free, but whilst the disc is
performing its rotation the pin f' cannot descend, and the lever, Figure 7,
is then locked. When there is more than one lever, which requires to
be held until the train is passed the points, a disc e* is provided in
connection with each of them, but they may be all driven by the same
clockwork.

page_text: In the Specification of my former Patent before mentioned I also
described an improvement in the system of signalling, technically tormod
the "block" system. By this improvement the lover raising the signal
to danger, immediately a train has passed and when the line requires to
bo blocked, is locked, and cannot be moved and the signal lowered until
after the train has passed the next station ahead and the signalman thero
has relieved it by sending a tolographic signal back. This was effected
by an electric current operating upon a sliding bar or rotary disc. I now
employ a rotating instrument actuated from the distant station by an
electro-magnet. This instrument is placed immediately over a projection
on the catch bar of the lover it is required to control. In one part of
the rotating instrument is a notch which allows the projection on the
catch bar to rise up through it, and then the lever can be unbolted and
worked without hindrance. When the rotating instrument is turned so
that the notch does not correspond with the projection on the catch bar
the lever cannot be unlocked. A portion of the rotating instrument is
jointed so that it can yield in a downward direction to allow the pro-
jection on the catch bar to pass down underneath it whatever be the
position of the rotating instrument at the time when the signal lever
raises the signal.
This instru-
Figure 10 is a sido view of a portion of the signal lever. Its draw
bar a has a projection a' upon it which when the lever is locked with
the signal at danger is beneath the rotating instrument b.
ment is seen in plan at Figuro 11. It is of a conical form, and is
mounted on a vortical spindlo &', which turns very freely. At 6' a link is
connected, and this link is also jointed to the armature of the electro-
magnet c. When the current is passing through the magnet it attracts
its armaturo and draws the instrument round until the notch &' is imme-
diately over the projection a². When the electric current ceases to flow
the armaturo is caused by a feeblo spring to leave the magnet. is a
joint which allows a part of the instrument 6 to yield in a downward
direction only. It allows the projection a¹ to descend below the instru-
ment b, but prevents it rising until it is moved out of the way by the
rotation of the instrument. I also apply the above arrangemont of self-
5 locking block apparatus when using a rotary detent for the signal levors
as herein-before described, thus rendering the block system more safe.
I claim as respects this part of my Invention the means herçin
described to prevent a signal lover from being used to take off a danger

page_text: signal until the lover has been unlocked by a telegraphic signal from a
station in front of tho signal.
In order to more safely conduct the traffic at large stations where
several junctions are located together, and where there aro a quantity of
lincs intersecting each other and requiring several locking or interlocking 5
apparatus worked by various signalmen, say A, B, and O, at distances
the one from the other, and to prevent collisions caused by contradictory
signals being given by the different men to trains on the converging
lines, I cause by this Invention the several different apparatus to have
control over each other, that is to say, whilst A is worked B and C are 1
neutral and locked. When the signals of A are whistled off the levers
working the signals and catch points in machines B and C are first
locked. Certain levers in machine A when pulled over to work the
traffic that is consigned to it actuate or give motion to a bar or rotary
disc provided with holes or notches for the purpose of locking the above 1
mentioned levers in B and C, or the detents or parts connected therewith.
In like manner, when machine B is worked, A and C are neutral and
locked, and so on for a greater number of machines.
upon
The arrangement I use for carrying out this part of my Invention
is shewn at Figure 1. It consists of a pulley i with a disc & fixed 2
its axis. The disc has a hole in it at one side. A chain passes around
the pulley and is attached to it. One end of the chain is connected
with a weight, and the other is attached to a wire passing away to a
distance, to the place at which the control is to be exercised; f is a
pin jointed to the lever f. When the weight is resting upon the ground 2
or other support the hole in the disc stands in such a position that tho
pin f* can descend into it, and no opposition is offered to the movement
of the leverf, and parts in connection therewith; but if by means of
a strain applied to the wire the weight be raised a short distance the
hole in the disc will no longer be opposite the pin f, and so the 80
unlocking of the switch or signal lever is for the time prevented. This
arrangement is more especially applicable when the signals and switches
are interlocked by apparatus such as is described in the Specification
herrin-before mentioned. It is obvious that a sliding bar may be
substituted for the disc , and worked in a similar manner.
I claim, as respects this part of my Invention, the means herein
described of controlling signal and switch levers from a distance,
substantially in the manner described,
8

page_text: Another part of my Invention relates to an improved method of
working tho movablo tongues or point rails of railway switches. In
order to admit of railway switches being worked with certainty from a
considerable distance, and to give greater security and stability to the
5 movable tongues or points, I work them by an eccentric or cam, two
opposite segments of which are struck from the centre of the axis by
which such eccentric or cam is carried, these two segments being those
nearest to and furthest from such axis. The eccentric or cam is received
between two rollers carried by a short bar connected to the tongue or
point, so that by turning the eccentric or can tho tonguo or point may
be moved into either of its two positions, and bo securely locked when
in either position. The axis of the eccentric or cam may be turned by
light rods or wires connected to the signal mechanism.
Figuro 12 is a plan, and Figure 13 an elevation, partly in section, of
apparatus for working switches, arranged according to my Invention ;
a is a base plate or casting firmly pinned down to a sleeper; 6 is a stud
axis fixed into it, and further supported at its upper end; c is an
eccentric or cam mounted so as to be able to turn on the stud b. Two
opposite quadrants of the cam aro concentric with the axis; d, d, aro
two pulleys cast with the cam. Two chains are fixed to the pulleys (one
to each), and they are lapped around them in opposite directions, so that
by pulling upon one or other of them the cam or eccentric can bo
turned half round either way; but, as will be seen, it may be more or
less without interfering with the efficient action of the apparatus.
These chains aro attached to wires leading to the point from whence
tho switch is to bo worked, where they are connected to a lever or levers
by means of which the motion is given; e is a rod attached to the
tonguo rail, and on its other end or head it carries two friction pulleys f,f,
which embrace the eccentric or cam c between them. The head of the
rode is slotted to allow the stud 6 to pass through it, and this serves as
a guide to the rod in the to-and-fro motion which it receives from tho
eccentric or cam. In place of using an eccentric, a pin fixed
eccentrically in a disc may be employed in the manner indicated by the
Figures 14; but this arrangement is inforior to that first described.
I claim as respects this part of my Invention the apparatus for
working the tongue or movable mile of wilma

page_text: Another part of my Invention relates to means of giving audible or
fog signals to passing trains, to indicate to the driver of the train that
the line is blocked. For the purpose of giving audible or fog signals
to passing trains I employ two or more surfaces of wood, bone, or other
hard substances, and cause them to vibrate or beat against each other 5
by the wheels of the passing train acting upon a treadle or lever.
An elevation of the apparatus is shown at Figure 15, a plan at
Figure 16, and a horizontal section at Figure 17; a, is a vertical axis
with an arm a¹ fixed upon it, and the arm is held tightly between two
springs 6, 6; c, c, c, c, are four wooden blocks forming a head, and fixed 1
at the top of the axis a; d, d, d, d, are four radial tongues of wood,
jointed at their inner ends to the head, and free to vibrate between the
blocks o; e is a rod which when the signal is required to be sounded is
put into gear with a treadle bar by the side of the line of railway.
As each wheel passes over the treadle it thrusts the rod e forward and 1
causes it to strike the arm a². The axis a is thus caused to vibrate and
the blocks o and tongues d are beaten violently together.
I claim, as respects this part of my Invention, the means of giving
audible signals to passing trains, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Baines, have hereunto set 2
my hand and seal, this Third day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
W. BAINES. (L.s.)