Improvements in Operating and Locking Railway Switches, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 29th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Operating and Locking Railway Switches, and
Apparatus therefor.
We, CHARLES HENRIK SCHAGER, of 4 Grefgatan Stockholm, Merchant, and
JOHANNES MAGNUS JONASSON LUNDIN, of the Railway Station Wärtan, near
Stockholm Stationmaster, both in the Kingdom of Sweden, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in means for operating and locking of
railway switches to the best advantage.
The object of the invention is to provide a simple and reliable means for
operating and locking railway switches so as to obtain the advantages of the switch
being rigidly locked, when the signal shows "clear" for trains or cars coming
from the outside towards the switch, whilst at the same time the construction is
such that, when the switch is not locked, it may be easily opened by a train or car,
coming out on the track for which the switch is not laid, without damaging the
track or switch or getting derailed. The construction is also such that the switch
may equally well be operated at the place or at a distance so that switching may
be done out on the train-yard, when no train is expected to come through the
switch from outside, but the apparatus may be locked from a distance, (for instance
the railway station) to prevent its being manipulated, when a train is expected.
This has the advantage that the stationmaster may himself lock the switches and
see that they are locked when trains are expected, and release them afterwards
without needing to go out to the switch, while on the other hand the switching
hands may operate the switches, when it is allowed, without going to the station.
The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter
set forth.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus applied to a switch on a railway
track.
Figure 2 is an elevation end wise of the apparatus.
Fig. 3 is a partial side elevation and Fig. 4 a partial plan view of the same.
Figs. 5 and 6 are side and plan views of the lever and pulley for operating the
switch, and Figs. 7 and 8 similar views of an improvement on the lever for operating
the signal.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
Referring to the drawings,
a represents a rod or bar connected to the movable switch points or rails
and extending to one side under one of the fixed rails. Said rod is outside
the rail provided with a tap 6 provided with a friction roller and running in a
slot c in a cam plate e, which in its turn runs in suitable guides d in a direction at
right angles to the length of the rod a. Said cam plate is preferably placed above
the rod a, but may also be placed below the same, and the slot c runs obliquely
against the direction of the length of the rod, so that by moving the cam plate in
the same direction as a track runs, the rod a will by means of said slot and tap be--
forced to move in the direction of its length whereby the switch will be operated.
For moving the said cam plate e a lever fis pivoted in a suitable chair (fixed to
the crossties) and by means of a pulley f¹ and rod connected to the said cam
plate so that by moving the lever over to one side or the other, the switch may be
Figure 2 is an elevation end wise of the apparatus.
Fig. 3 is a partial side elevation and Fig. 4 a partial plan view of the same.
Figs. 5 and 6 are side and plan views of the lever and pulley for operating the
switch, and Figs. 7 and 8 similar views of an improvement on the lever for operating
the signal.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
Referring to the drawings,
a represents a rod or bar connected to the movable switch points or rails
and extending to one side under one of the fixed rails. Said rod is outside
the rail provided with a tap 6 provided with a friction roller and running in a
slot c in a cam plate e, which in its turn runs in suitable guides d in a direction at
right angles to the length of the rod a. Said cam plate is preferably placed above
the rod a, but may also be placed below the same, and the slot c runs obliquely
against the direction of the length of the rod, so that by moving the cam plate in
the same direction as a track runs, the rod a will by means of said slot and tap be
forced to move in the direction of its length whereby the switch will be operated.
For moving the said cam plate e a lever is pivoted in a suitable chair (fixed to
the crossties) and by means of a pulley f¹ and rod connected to the said cam
plate so that by moving the lever over to one side or the other, the switch may be
Price 8d 1

page_text: operated at the spot. The said lever f is also by means of ropes e and pulley f¹
connected to another lever m placed at a distance for instance at the depot, so that the
switch may be also operated by means of the last mentioned lever. The said rod a
extends further toward a vertical axle or shaft, which is held by suitable bearings
in a post and may either on its top carry a signal disc or by means of wire ropes j
be so connected to another similar rod g¹ carrying a signal disc, that they are both
turned at the same time. At the bottom the said rod 9 is provided with a cam or
hook h, which is so placed or arranged that when the signal shows "clear" it runs
in either of two slots i in the end of said crossbar a. Said slots are placed so that
when the cam or ho k runs in one of them the points of the switch rails are laid
and locked for one track and when the book runs in the other the switch is locked
for the other track. The signal is by means of ropes j connected with a lever for
operating the same, which lever is placed beside the lever m for operating switch
at a distance. The result of this arrangement is that the station master at the
depot may himself see that the switch is laid for the right track and thereafter lock
the same by placing the signal to show "clear," whereupon the yardmen are unable
to interfere with the switch or do any switching until the stationmaster (after the
train has passed the station) unlocks the switch by moving the signal to show
The last mentioned position of the signal disc is shown in the drawing by
dotted lines.
The before mentioned lever m for operating the signal at the station is on one
side provided with a shield p (Figs. 7 and 8) so fixed and placed, that it displays
different sides for the two different positions of the lever and switch. The side
corresponding to the switch being laid for the main track may be painted or
otherwise suitably marked for instance 1 and the other side similarly painted or
marked 2, so that by looking at the shield, the stationmaster may ascertain for
which track the switch is laid.
The before mentioned lever k for operating the signal is on one side provided
with a shield O protruding over the post n in which the lever is pivoted. Said
shield is bent to a curve of the same radius as the circle in which it moves, when
the lever is operated, and the top of the post n is suitably painted or marked
"stop" on the post covered by the shield, when the signal stands for "stop" and
similarly marked "clear" on the spot covered by the shield when the signal stands
for "clear," the stationmaster is thereby enabled to ascertain the position of the
signal without being obliged to directly look at the same.
The invention need not be carried out exactly as shown in the drawings. So for
instance may the tap b and cam plate c change places, as will be well understood
by any person skilled in the art to which it appertains.
Dated this 26th day of March
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in Operating and Locking Railway Switches, and
Apparatus therefor.
We, CHARLES HENRIK SCHAGER, of 4 Grefgatan Stockholm, Merchant, and
JOHANNES MAGNUS JONASSON LUNDIN, of the Railway Station Wärtan, near
Stockholm, Stationmaster, both in the Kingdom of Sweden, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
Farticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for operating and locking
of railway switches to the best advantage.

page_text: The object of the invention is to provide simple and reliable apparatus for
operating and locking railway switches so as to obtain the advantages of the switch
heing rigidly locked, when the signal shows "clear" for trains or cars coming
from the outside towards the switch, whilst at the same time the construction is
such that, when the switch is not locked, it may be easily opened by a train or car,
coming out on the track for which the switch is not laid, without damaging the
track or switch or getting derailed. The construction is also such that the switch
may equally well be operated at the place or at a distance so that switching may
be done out of the train-yard, when no train is expected to come through the-
switch from outside, but the apparatus may be locked from a distance, (for instance
the railway station) to prevent its being manipulatel, when a train is expected..
This has the advantage that the stationmaster may himself lock the switches and
see that they are locked when trains are expected, and release them afterwards
without needing to go out to the switch, while on the other hand the switching
hands may operate the switches, when it is allowed, without going to the
station.
The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter
set forth.
In the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification,
Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus applied to a switch on a railway-
track.
Figure 2 is an elevation endwise of the apparatus.
Fig. 3 is a partial side elevation, and Fig. 4 a partial plan view of the same.
Figs. 5 and 6 are side and plan views of the lever and pulley for operating the
switch, and Figs. 7 and 8 similar views of an improvement on the lever for operating.
the signal.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
Referring to the drawings,
a represents a rod or bar connected to the movable switch points or rails.
and extending to one side under one of the fixed rails. Said rod is outside the rail
provided with a tap 6 provided with a friction roller and running in a slot c in a cam
plate e, which in its turn runs in suitable guides d in a direction at right angles to
the length of the rod a. Said cam plate is preferably placed above the rod a,.
but may also be placed below the same, and the slot c runs obliquely against the
direction of the length of the rod, so that by moving the cam plate in the same
direction as a track runs, the rod a will by means of said slot and tap be forced to
move in the direction of its length whereby the switch will be operated. For
moving the said cam plate c a lever fis pivoted in a suitable chair (fixed to the
crossties) and by means of a pulley f' and rod f' connected to the said cam plate-
so that by moving the lever f over to one side or the other, the switch may be
operated at the spot. The said lever f is also by means of ropes and pulley f¹ con--
nected to another lever m placed at a distance for instance at the depot, so that
the switch may be also operated by means of the last mentioned lever. The said
rod a extends further toward a vertical axle or shaft, which is held by suitable
bearings in a post and may either on its top carry a signal disc or by means of wire
ropes j be so connected to another similar rod 9' carrying a signal disc, that they
are both turned at the same time. At the bottom the said rod g is provided with
a cam or hook, which is so placed or arranged that when the signal shows
"clear" it runs in either of two slots in the end of said crossbar a. Said slots
are placed so that when the cam or hook runs in one of them the points of the
switch rails are laid and locked for one track and when the hook runs in the other
the switch is locked for the other track. The signal is by means of ropes j con-
nected with a lever k for operating the same, which lever is placed beside the
lever m for operating switch at a distance. The result of this arrangement is that
the station master at the depot may himself see that the switch is laid for the
right track and thereafter lock the same by placing the signal to show " clear,"
whereupon the yardmen are unable to interfere with the switch or do any switching.

page_text: until the stationmaster (after the train has passed the station) unlocks the switch
by moving the signal to show "stop." The last mentioned position of the signal
disc is shown in the drawing by dotted lines.
The before mentioned lever m for operating the switch at the station is on one
side provided with a shield p (Figs. 7 and 8) so fixed and placed, that it displays
different sides for the two different positions of the lever and switch. The side
corresponding to the switch being laid for the main track may be painted or
otherwise suitably marked for instance 1 and the other side similarly painted or
marked 2, so that by locking at the shield, the stationmaster may ascertain for
which track the switch is laid.
The before mentioned lever & for operating the signal is on one side provided
with a shield O protruding overt he post n in which the lever k is pivoted. Said
shield is bent to a curve of the same radius as the circle in which it moves, when
the lever is operated, and the top of the post n is suitably painted or marked
"stop
"on the part covered by the shield, when the signal stands for "stop" and
similarly marked "clear" on the part covered by the shield when the signal stands
for "clear." The stationmaster is thereby enabled to ascertain the position of the
signal without being obliged to directly look at the same.
The operation of the apparatus is obvious. When a train is expected the switch
is laid for the right track by means of either levers m or f and the signal set to
show "clear" and the switch locked by means of the lever k. Before the train
arrives the stationmaster may by looking at the levers m and k himself ascertain
whether the switch is laid for the right track or not and whether the same. is
properly locked and signal rightly set or not. After the train has passed the
signal is placed to show "stop," whereby the switch is unlocked so that the same
may be shifted at the spot by means of the lever f.
The invention need not be carried out exactly as described, but the details may
be modified as well understood by any person skilled in the art to which it
appertains. So, for instance may the tap b and cam-plate c change places, and the
ropes and levers be exchanged for other similar contrivances.
Having now particularly described at,' ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is;
1. In apparatus for operating and locking of railway switches the combination
of a crossbar connected to the switchpoints, a camplate adapted to move the said
crossbar, a switchlever connected to the said camplate, a second switch lever con-
nected to the first mentioned switchlever, a cam or hook connected to a signal and
adapted to hold the said crossbar in either of its extreme position, when the signal
shows "clear," and a lever for operating said signal, substantially as and for the
-purpose set forth.
2. In apparatus for operating and locking of railway switches the combination
of a crossbar moveable in the direction of its length and adapted to move the
switchpoints, a camplate moveable in the direction of the rails and adapted to
move the said crossbar, a switchlever adapted to move the said camplate, a second
switchlever provided with signs showing the position of the switch and by means
of suitable transmissions such as wire rope connected to the first mentioned lever,
a cam or book connected to a signal disc and catching in suitable notches in the
said crossbar so as to hold the switchpoints in either of its extreme position and a
lever provided with signs showing the position of said signal-disc and connected so
as to operate the same, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated the 26th day of December 1896.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham.