INDICATING THE MOVEMENTS OF RAILWAY SWITCHES OR POINTS AND SIGNALS, AND IN THE APPARATIS FOR RECORDING SUCH MOVEHOW "
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Smith, of No. 19, Salisbury Street,
Strand, W.C., London, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of
"INDICATING THE MOVEMENTS OF RAILWAY SWITCHES OR POINTS AND SIGNALS,
AND IN THE APPARATIS FOR RECORDING SUCH MOVEHOW "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th October 1878.
I, WILLIAM SMITH, of No. 19, Salisbury Street, Strand, W.C.,
London, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "INDICATING THE MOVEMENTS OF RAILWAY SWITCHES - OR -POINTS-
AND SIGNALS, AND IN THE APPARATUS FOR RECORDING SUCH MOVEMENTS," to be as
For the purpose of farther and more completely ensuring safety in
O working-traffic over junctions or over the points and switches of railways,

page_text: and for the purposo of indicating and recording all the movements of tho
switches or points, and of the signals in relation to time and the passage
of trains and traffic, I connect the hand lovers or lover handlos, or the
spring catch rods thereof, or some other convenient moving part of the
point & signal moving apparatus to and with a chronographic or
automatic indicating or indicating and recording apparatus, by which
the time of as well as the direction of the movement of any point or
signal lever, or of the points or signals thereof may be recorded upon
strips or sheets of plain or ruled or otherwise prepared paper or other
suitable material, so that reference may be made thereto for the purpose
of ascertaining when the various hand levers were moved, as also in
what direction and relation the one to the other they were so moved;
and also the time and circumstances in relation to such movement.
One of the most convenient, forms of indicating and recording
apparatus for this purpose is that of "a going barrel" or barrels, by 1
which a coil, strip, or band of accurately ruled or divided, or it may be
plain paper, is drawn off at an uniform speed, each space or pair of
(parallel) ruled lines (where divided paper is employed) representing
some division of time, and the other spaces or divisions by lines at right
angles to the former agreeing with the number of hand levers (or point 2
and signal moving apparatus) combined together, and capable of being
interlocked and made to act or operate one upon the other (for point and
signal working and locking), tho movement of each lever or of somo
other moving part of the apparatus being employed through suitablo
connections (by preference electro-magnetic) to mark, indent, or a
otherwise leave a record of the time and direction of its movement.
Thus, every movement of the points and signals, whether it be wrongly
and ill-timed or correctly made can bo indicated and recorded, and a
complete check upon the performance of the duties of pointsmen and
signalmen may thus bo obtained and preserved for reference.
The divisions of time in some cases may be recorded by marks mado
by a clock movement acting upon an electro-magnetic or otherwiso
moved pen or stile, instead of relying on the uso of divided paper or
other strips, and an uniform drawing-off motion.
a
The recording mechanism or apparatus is intended to be contained g
within a box or caso attached to or connected with either an individual
point working or a signal working lever or apparatus, or when a number

page_text: f levers are combined within a signal box or in a "crow's nest," each;
lever or the corresponding part of the moving gear or the looking.
apparatus may have its contact maker or its circuit making and breaking
apparatus attached thereto, and each pair or set of magnets may be
placed in a separate and locked box, or the whole of the pairs or sets of
magnets representing the whole number of levers, or of any section or
portion thereof, may be combined together in one box or case, and
synchronous action between it and an accurate clock or timekeeper
may be effected by means of any convenient connection between the
two, and the drawing-off of the prepared paper with the mechanically
divided spaces or divisions (in one direction representing time, and the
spaces or divisions in the contrary direction corresponding with tho
number of lovers) may either be drawn off continuously at an uniform
speed, or by a step-by-step motion.
The length of the drawing-off cylinder and the width of the paper (or
other material for receiving the indications and recording them) need
only be sufficient for a number of spaces corresponding with a number
of levers, the divisions between the lines thereof being sufficiently wide
to receive the mark of the pen or stile to the right or left, or of the
indent produced by the movement of each hand lover or other part of
the locking apparatus, or of the movement of the switches or points, or
of the signals of which part of the apparatus it is a representation (to-
some extent) in miniature..
Plain strips or bands or webs of paper or other material may be used,
and the deflection of the marking stile or pen from the right to the left,
or vice versa, will indicate the direction of movement, and individualize.
•the particular lever or handle moved, and by a similar pen or stile
arrangement the divisions of time may be indicated and recorded
simultaneously with the movements of cither the points or the signals,
or of both the points and the signals.
i
Although I propose and prefer to employ electro-magnetic power for
actuating or calling into action the indicating or recording apparatus, or
the pen, stile, or indenter, as herein-before stated, the movements of-the-
hand_levers-or-lever handles in one direction or the other, or of the
spring catch rods of such levers, or of some other convenient part-of-the-
-point-or-signal-moving or actuating apparatus, making and breaking
contact, and so making or breaking circuit between the battery or

page_text: batteries and the magnets or other such like apparatus, yet such
movement may be effected by mechanical connections, or by the use of
other well-known transmitters of movement, and be employed either
alone or in conjunction with electro-magnetic apparatus.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 2nd April 1874.
. TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
SMITH, of No. 19, Salisbury Street, Strand, W.C., London, Oivil
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of October, in tho
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-threc, in tho
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Smith, Her
special licence that I, the said William Smith, my exccutors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Smith,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during tho term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercisc, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "INDICATING THE MOVEMENTS OF RAILWAY SWITCHES OR POINTS AND SIGNALS,
AND IN THE APPARATUS FOR RECORDING SUCH MOVEMENTS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Smith, my exccutors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or onu
of their hands and scals, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, tho said William Smith, do hereby declare

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
For the purpose of further and more completely ensuring safety in
working traffic over junctions or over the points and switches of railways,
and for the purpose of indicating and recording all the movements of the
switches or points, and of the signals in relation to time and the passage
of trains and traffic, I connect the hand levers or lever handles, or the
spring catch rods thereof, or some other convenient moving part of the
-point and signal moving apparatus to and with a chronographic or
automatic indicating or indicating and recording apparatus, by which
the time of as well as the direction of the movement of any point or
signal lever, or of the points or signals thereof, may be recorded upon
strips or sheets of plain or ruled or otherwise prepared paper or other
suitable material, so that reference may be made thereto for the purpose
of ascertaining when the various hand levers were or are moved, as
also in what direction and relation the one to the other they were or are
so moved; and also the time and circumstances in relation to such
movements.
One of the most convenient forms of indicating and recording
apparatus which I propose for this purpose is that of a "going barrel"
or barrels, by which a coil, strip, or band of accurately ruled or divided
(it may be plain) paper is drawn off at an uniform speed; each space
or pair of (parallel) ruled lines (where divided paper is employed) repre-
senting some division of time, and the other spaces or divisions by lines
at right angles to the former, agreeing with the number of hand levers
(or point and signal-moving apparatus) combined together, and capable
of being interlocked and made to act or operate one upon the other (for
point and signal working and locking); the movement of each lever or
of some other moving part of the apparatus being employed through
suitable, connections (by preference electro-magnetic) to mark or other-
wise leave a record of the time and direction of its movement. Thus
every movement of the points and signals, whether it be wrongly and ill
timed or correctly made, can be indicated and recorded, and a complete
check upon the performance of the duties-of-pointsmen¯ and¯signālmen
may thus be obtained and preserved for reference.

page_text: .
´moved 'pen or style (instead of relying on the-use-of divided paper or
other mathematically divided strips or bands), and by means of an
uniform drawing-off motion communicated by or from a going barrel or
other contrivance under regulation.
.
The recording mechanism or apparatus is intended to be contained
within a box or case attached to or connected with either-an-individual
point-working or a signal-working lever or apparatus, or when a number
of or several levers are combined together and arranged or set up v
within-
a signal box or in a "crow's nest" each lever (or the corresponding
part of the moving gear or the locking apparatus) may have its.
contact maker (or its circuit making and breaking apparatus) attached
thereto, and cach pair or set of magnets (whatever their form or
character may be) are, by-preference, placed in a separate and locked
-box, or the whole of the pairs or sets of magnets representing the whole
number of levers (or of any section or portion thereof) may be combined
'together in one box or case, and synchronous action between it or them,
-and-an accurate-clock-or-time keeper, or time recorder, may be effected
by means of any convenient connection between the two; and the
drawing off of the strip or band of plain paper or of the prepared paper
with the mathematically divided spaces or divisions (in one direction
representing time, and the spaces or divisions in the contrary direction
corresponding with the number of levers) may either be drawn off
continuously at-an uniform speed or by a step-by-step motion, though
"the former mode is preferable.
The length of the drawing-off cylinder and the width of the paper (or
other material for receiving the indications and recording them) need
sonly be sufficient for a number of spaces corresponding to or with tho
number of levers, the divisions between the lines thereof being sufficiently
.wide to receive the marks or deflections of the pen or style to the right
and left, or of the indents produced by the movement of each hand lever
or other part of the locking apparatus, or of the movement of the
'switches or points, or of the signals, of which part of the apparatus it
thus forms and is a representation (to some extent) in miniature.
Plain strips, or bands, or webs-of paper or other material may be used,
and the deflection of the marking style or pen from the right to the loft,
or vice versa, will indicate the direction of movement and individualizo
the particular lever or handle moved; and by a similar pen or style

page_text: arrangement the divisions of time may be indicated and recorded simul-
taneously with the movements of both the points and the signals.
Although I propose and prefer to employ electro-magnetic power for
actuating or calling into action the indicating or recording apparatus,
or the pen, style, or indenter, as herein-before stated, the movements of
the hand levers or lever handles in one direction or the other, or of the
spring catch rods of such levers, or of some other convenient part of
the point or signal moving or actuating apparatus, making and breaking
contact (and so making or breaking circuit between the battery or
batteries and the magnets or other such like apparatus), yet such
actuation or movement may be effected by pneumatic or hydraulic or
mechanical connections, or by the use of other well-known transmitters
of movement, and be employed either alone or in conjunction with
electro-magnetic apparatus. Thus by attaching to the hand levers of
point and signal working or interlocking apparatus or to the spring
catch rods thereof, or to some other reciprocating part or portion of
point and signal working, or working and locking apparatus a circuit or
contact maker or connection, or an actuating arrangement for calling
into play or setting in action either electro-magnetic or other power for
actuating a marking or indicating and recording pen or style, or other
means of marking or indenting a strip, band, or sheet of paper unrolled
or drawn-off uniformly, the strip, band, or sheet may be either divided
into right angled lines or spaces representing time longitudinally, and
by lines and numbers in the width or transversely individualizing the
levers of the point and signal working apparatus, and their movements
in one or the other direction, and by the deflection of the pen or style to
the right or to the left of the centre line (which may be an ideal and
not a marked line), an indication can be given and recorded of the
direction of the movement of any lever corresponding therewith. This
result is effected in relation to the time of movement, and also in
relation to the movement of one lever with the other levers, thus the
strip, band, or sheet of paper is drawn-off uniformly and each lever as it
is moved marks thercon its movement, and the direction thereof in
relation to the movement of other levers and to the time of each_move-
ment. It follows that for all the levers so connected
up and actuated
together a complete view is presented of their individual and relative
movements, and the changes in their positions at any particular time-as
well as for the whole period represented by the whole. length: 'off the

page_text: sheet, band, or strip, or of any portion of its length representing a
proportionate period of time.
Where several sets of recording apparatus are employed within the
same signal box for indicating and recording the movements of sections
or sets of the apparatus, upon sheets, strips, or bands of paper of limited
width, the one edge of cach of such strips, bands, or sheets may bo
marked with the time indications regulated and controlled by the
movement of a common timekeeper, such as the station clock or tho
clock within the signal box, and the various strips, bands, or sheets as
they are drawn off are so marked as to bear a common relation the one
to the other; when they are removed from the apparatus for the purpose
of being referred to or kept for record they can be compared with one
and other, and the individual and relative movements of the whole of
the points and signal levers can be ascertained with exactness.
The time may be indicated and recorded in seconds or minutes (or at
intervals of any number of seconds or minutes) or by any other divisions
of time that may be found most convenient, the speed of the drawing-off
motion being regulated accordingly and being proportioned as may be
found necessary to the extent or frequency or multiplication of the
working or of the numbers of lines of railway, or of the points and
signals employed for regulating and directing the traffic or movement of
trains, as also for shunting and other purposes in connection with traffic
working. In like manner where several separato and distinct sets of
recording apparatus are employed each may have its own battery or
batteries; or cach pair of magnets may have its own battery and havo 2
their connections with the magnets for moving or deflecting the pens,
styles, or markers.
There are various kinds or descriptions of pens, styles, and markers
that are applicable for the purpose of marking or recording in manner
herein set forth, for instance, I find that the "capillary syphon pen" 3
may be advantageously used, and it should be so mounted as to be easily
and rapidly deflected from right to left and vice versâ, with a minimum
of power, whether electro-magnetic or other power be employed, for
deflecting the marker from one side to the other, or for producing a
vertically downward or upward movement thereof, so as to bring the 3
pen alternately in or out of contact with the recording paper or strip for
the purpose of making marks thereon.

page_text: : Instead of mounting each pen, style, or marker on the axis of a
magnetised needle or bar of steel suitably mounted and arranged within
a helix of insulated wire, or a bar or armature mounted between or in
proximity to the poles of an electro-magnet, so as to produce the
requisite deflection to the right or left or otherwise, such deflections or
changes in the position of the recording instrument may be effected by
means of pneumatic or hydraulic apparatus, which will be actuated by
means of the movement of the spring catch rod immediately upon the
operator grasping the handle when it is either in the front or back
position.
Instead of the actuation of the marking instrument being offected by
the upward movement of the spring catch rod on the withdrawal of the
bolt or latching piece from the notch usually formed in each end of the
quadrant, it may be operated by the lever itself upon its being brought
home into either the front or the back position. Or instead of the move-
ment of the catch rod or the lever itself, tho movement of a rocker.in
connection with the lever of some other moving part of the locking or
interlocking gear of the Saxby and Farmer, or any other point or signal
moving or interlocking gear may be utilized or employed for producing
the requisite movement or motion of the pen, style, or instrument for
marking and recording the movements of the point or signal apparatus,
or the levers for actuating the same.
In carrying out my Invention there are several forms and arrange,
ments of pneumatic apparatus that may be employed for actuating.the
registering apparatus, it being observed, as will be well understood by
persons conversant with the subject, that the arrangement of apparatus
actually employed should be adapted to the particular apparatus and
primo mover to which it is applied. As an illustration of one mode of
employing the pneumatic apparatus I employ a vessel or chamber of
flexible or clastic material containing air, so fitted and applied as to be
acted upon and compressed by the movement of some part of the
mechanical apparatus, and the air, so propelled forward or discharged
therefrom, is forced along a small tube or suitable conduit pipe to the
receiving-diaphragm or vessel in close proximity to the pen, style, or
marker, which it moves in the required direction, and leaves it-in such
position until a reversal or actuation of the lever or other moving portion
of the point and signal moving and interlocking apparatus again changse

page_text: When I employ electro-magnetic apparatus, or any arrangements of
magnets to be affected or brought into action by the change of position
of a lever or other working part of the apparatus the change in the
polarity of the current for effecting the deflection of the pen or marker
is thus effected. The action of the current may be called into play,
and directed by the movement of the spring catch rod or of the hand
lever. A change in the position of the handle may then be made to
change the direction of the current, and its action on the magnetic
portion of the apparatus will be reversed. A similar action may also be
obtained by utilising the movement of the rockers herein-before referred
to, or by the motion and change of position of any reciprocating or
moving part or portion of the point and signal moving or interlocking
gear contained within the signalman's box or attached to a point or
switch locking apparatus or gear.
The clock movement employed to mark and record the time on the
edge of the paper may have the recording apparatus so connected with
the striking action that the hours and the quarters of the hour may, be
correspondingly indicated in addition to the shorter periods or divisions
of time, which action or operation may be, produced by suitable stops,
studs, or pins, which strike a tail piece or arm for producing the shorter
deflections and marks for indicating the shorter intervals of time; and,
whilst the quarter hours may be marked upon one side of the con-
tinuous time line the shorter and more frequently repeated divisions of
time may be marked on the other side of the time line, and the hour
marks may be made on the same side.
Whilst one edge of the strip or sheet may show the time indications
the passage of trains past the signal box or station may also be recorded
on the other edge of the paper, the passing train being made to operate
upon some projection or treadle, or other contact maker, and so indicate
its passage, which is then recorded. The marks or records thus kept
may either be recorded in the shape of a series of deflections reprc-
senting the number of "pairs of wheels" passing over a given point on
the line, or one continuous deflection may be produced by the entire
-passage-of-the-train-irrespective of the number of vehicles or pairs of
wheels. The middle portion or body of the paper in this case would be
-devoted-to-the-recording-of-the-lever movements or the movements of
tho points and signals.

page_text: ..
Each of the longitudinal lines of markings or "pen tracks" may be
numbered to correspond with a lever or handle, or some other moving
part of the point or signal working or locking apparatus to which motion
is communicated when the position of a signal or a point has been
changed by an operator; and such longitudinal lines or spaces may have b
the proper numbers ready printed upon the strips or sheets of paper to
correspond with the numbers upon the several lovers composing the
group or series, or the sets of levers or apparatus combined and working
together in unison, so that at any time reference can be made thereto,
and a recorded report or relation and identification can by reference be 1
readily obtained.

page_text: 5
WILLIAM SMITH. (L.§.)
Witness,
HENRY HERBERT MONTAGUE SMITH,
Assistant to Mr. Wm. Smith, C.E.,
19, Salisbury Street,
Strand, W.C.