IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING RAILWAY SWITCHES AND SIGNALS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Brady, of 6, Saint John's Terrace, Regent's
Park; in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING RAILWAY SWITCHES AND SIGNALS."
Sealed the 24th December 1867, and dated the 4th July 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Brady at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th July
. 1867.
I, FRANCIS BRADY, of 6, Saint John's Terrace, Regent's Park, in the County
of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING RAILWAY SWITCHES AND SIGNALS," to be as
follows:
This Invention consists of an improved combination of apparatus for
working railway switches and signals in such manner that when a switch lever
is moved to shift a switch all the signals which must then necessarily be set at
danger shall be locked in that position. For this purpose the axes of the
switch and signal levers are placed in a line with one another, and to each
signal lever is pin-jointed a link or rod, there being one such rod to each
lever. Each rod at distances along its length is pin-jointed to the ends of
short levers, which at their opposite ends are carried by pins parallel with the
axes of the signal levers, so that when a signal lever is turned on its axis the
levers which are linked to it will be turned through a similar arc of a circle
and always remain parellel with such signal lever. Each switch lever is also
similarly connected by a link or links to a lever or crank arm on a spindle, on

page_text: which are fixed projecting arms or stops, each of which comes opposite the
sides of one or other of such of the short levers as are linked with the signal
levers that must be moved to danger before the switch lever is moved. When
these signal levers are in a position for the signals to be down or at safety then
the sides of the short levers with which they are connected abut against or
come in contact with the sides of the stops on the spindle linked to the switch
lever, so that the short levers, prevent the spindle which carries the stops, from
turning and so lock the switch lever and prevent its being moved. To each
switch lever there is a separate spindle or it might be spindles carrying stops,
and each such spindle works with one or other row of short levers linked up
with the several signal levers in the manner above described, so that each
switch lever may control the movement of any of the signal levers, and contrary-
wise any one of the signal levers may control the movement of the switch lever.
When before moving over a switch lever the signals which should previously be
brought to danger have been moved to this position by the signal levers, then
the short levers linked up with these signal levers will have been. turned into
such a position as to release the stops opposite to them and allow of their
turning with the spindle that carries them, and thus the switch lever is set
free to be turned. When the switch lever has been moved over the spindle
carrying the stops, being turned with it by means of the link and crank arm,
brings the stops into such a position that their ends then abut agaiust the sides
of the short levers linked to the signal levers, and thus they lock the signal
levers from turning. If also the signal levers have not been fully moved over
so as to bring the signals fully to the danger position, the stops by acting
against the sides of the short levers move the signal levers to their correct
position and lock them there securely until the switch lever is again moved
back to its former position, which may then safely be done as all the necessary
signals will be set at danger. In place of or in addition to the stops being
arranged to act against levers linked to the signal levers as above described
they may be arranged to act against the signal levers themselves.
+4

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Francis Brady, Her special licence that I, the said Francis Brady, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the said Francis Brady, iny
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
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 of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR WORKING RAILWAY SWITCHES AND SIGNALS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Francis Brady, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
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, the said Francis Brady, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention consists of an improved combination of apparatus for
working railway switches and signals in such manner that when a switch lever
is moved to shift a switch all the signals which must then necessarily be set
at danger shall be locked in that position. For this purpose the axes of
the switch and signal levers are placed in a line with one another, and
to each signal lever is pin-jointed a rod or rods, there being one or more such
rods to each lever. Each rod at distances along its length is pin-jointed to the
ends of short links or levers, which at their opposite ends are carried by pins
or studs secured and moving in chairs, shoes, or brackets; these pins or studs
being parallel with the the axes of the signal levers, so that when a signal lever
is turned on its axis the levers which are linked to it will be turned through a
similar arc of a circle. Each switch lever is also similarly connected by a a link
or connecting rod to a lever or crank arm on a spindle or axis, on which are
fixed projecting arms, cams, stops, or locking arcs, each of which comes
opposite the sides of one or other of such of the short links in connection with
the signal levers that must be moved to danger before the switch lever is moved.
When these signal levers are in a position for the signals to be down or at

page_text: safety then the sides of the short levers with which they are connected abut
against or come in contact with the sides. of the stops, cams, or locking ares on
the spindle linked to the switch lever, so that the short levers prevent the spindle
which carries the stops from: turning and so lock the switch lever and prevent
its being moved. To each switch lever there is a separate spindle or axis, or
it may be spindles carrying stops, and each such spindle or axis works with
one or other row of short links connected up with the several signal levers, iu
the manner above described, so that each switch lever'may control the move-
ment of any of the signal. levers, and contrariwise any one of the signal levers
may control the movement of the switch lever. When before moving over
a switch lever the signals which should previously be brought to danger have
been moved to this position by the signal levers then the short levers linked
up with these signal levers will have been turned into such a position as to
release the stops opposite to them and allow of their turning with the spindle
that carries them, and thus the switch lever is set free to be.turned. When
the switch lever has been moved over the spindle carrying the stops being
turned with it by means of the link and crank arm brings the stops into such
a position that their ends then abut against the sides of the short levers linked
to the signal levers, and thus they lock the signal levers from turning, if also
the signal levers have not been fully moved over so as to bring the signals fully
to the danger position the stops by acting against the sides of the short levers
move the signal levers to their correct position and lock them there securely
until the switch lever is again moved back to its former: position, which may
then safely be done, as all the necessary signals will be set at danger. In place
of or in addition to the stops being arranged to act against levers or short links
connected to the signal levers, as above described, they may be arranged to act
against the signal levers themselves.
And in order that my said. Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
Figure 1 is an end-view of the apparatus suitable for use atgan, ordinary
junction where there is also a cross-over road to pass from the up to the down
line, and vice versa, as is shown in Diagram, Figure 2; Figure 3 is a front
elevation of the same..
a, a, are the two point levers of the main and branch lines, and b is a lever
which works both the points of the cross-over road; these levers are mounted
on an axis in the usual way, and as the Drawing shows, and they are connected
with the points in the ordinary way so that no detailed description of: this
mechanism is necessary; c, c, are levers connected with the various signals,

page_text: .
and in Figure 3 the name of the signal or point to which each lever corresponds
is written upon it. In addition to the connection already mentioned.the.point
levers are connected with a series of horizontal, spindles or .axes.d', d, d³, d', d³,
on which locking arcs e, e, are fixed. Figure 4 is a plan of these axes with
locking ares, cranks, brackets,, and connecting rods with the signal lever con-
necting rods and short links .removed; e, e, are the locking arcs, and f,.f, the
cranks by which they are moved; they are represented in the position they
occupy when the main lines are open and the branch lines closed. Figures 5
and 6 show, opposite end, views of these axes and parts. To each of the signal
levers c. there are jointed horizontal bars c¹, c', which are also .connected by
links or short levers &, c, to the floor or foundation by means of chairs, shoes,
or brackets, in which the short links turn; thus the links, so. connected with
each signal lever are always parallel to the lever and against them, and against
the levers the locking ares on the horizontal axes act. In the Drawing the
whole of the signal levers are represented as standing at danger, and.con-
sequently the point levers are all free to be moved. If the trailing point lever
is moved from its present position to a position to suit trains coming from.the
branch,on to the main line it by means of links connecting it with the arms f
on the axes d¹ and d², causes these axes partially to rotate, and in so doing it
removes the locking arcs from the links c² of such of the branch signals as
may, then, be lowered, whilst at the same time it moves other locking arcs e
in front of the links. c of the main line signal levers which require to be held
at danger. In a similar. way the facing point lever when moved, over to snit
trains entering on the branch line gives motion to the axes d and d', and by
meaus of the locking ares upon them unlock such of the branch signals. as
may require to be lowered, whilst it locks any of the main line signals which
require to be then maintained at danger. The point lever of the cross-over
road when moved over closes both the points of the cross-over road and at the
same time causes the axis d' partly to rotate, and brings up the locking ares
thereon so as to lock all the signal levers at danger. In this arrangement it
will be observed that should any of the signals be lowered at the time when
it is attempted to move one of the point levers the point lever will be found
to be locked unless the said signal be one which may safely remain down, or
should it so happen that a signal lever is standing in an intermediate position
then the motion of the point lever will force it truly home, and similarly should
the points be in an intermediate position or imperfectly closed the signal
levers will either be found to be locked or else their motion will force the
point into a correct position. In cases where it becomes necessary to work
one or more sets of locking arcs by means of a signal lever the cranks of the

page_text: shafts carrying the locking arcs may be connected to one of the short links or
levers belonging to such signal lever with connecting rods or links; as shown
at a, Figure 7. Two or more sets of shafting can be worked together if
necessary by connecting the cranks with connecting rods or links.
When curved short links or levers are employed the curve on the side
of the. link next the locking arc is struck from the centre of the shaft
carrying the locking are or cam and corresponds with the curve of the end
of the locking are, and also with the curve of the side of the locking arc
next to it so as to fit truly to either side or end of the locking are according
to its position. When straight short links or levers are employed the cams
or locking arcs are curved on the end only, and straight on the side to
correspond with and fit to the short links or levers, see c, c, Figure 7, and
also c, Figure 8.
It will be obvious that the system above described is applicable at junctions
where a greater number of point levers are required, each point lever in the
manner described being caused to give motion to a separate axis or axes with
locking arcs thereon to lock and free the signal levers as described. These.
axes may if desired be arranged on both sides of the point and signal levers
in place of on one side only, as the Drawing represents, or in cases where a
large number of axes are required they may, as is obvious, be arranged
on floors one over the other, or perpendicularly, or at any angle with the
perpendicular, see Figure 8, in which one short link is shown working vertically
or nearly so.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim is, the
connecting the switch levers with spindles or axes having locking ares upon
them acting upon the signal levers or links, or parts connected therewith, as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Brady, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
FRAS. BRADY. (L.S.)