IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF OR APPARATUS FOR LOCKING AND INTERLOCKING THE LEVERS THAT WORK RAILWAY POINTS AND SIGNALS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Brierley, Frederick Wade Brierley, and Walter
Wright Brierley, all of Slough, in the County of Bucks, Railway Signal
Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF OR
APPARATUS FOR LOCKING AND INTERLOCKING THE LEVERS THAT WORK
RAILWAY POINTS AND SIGNALS."
Sealed the 2nd November 1877, and dated the 16th May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Brierley, Frederick
Wade Brierley, and Walter Wright Brierley at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents on the 16th May 1877.
JOHN BRIERLEY, FREDERICK WADE BRIERLEY, and WALTER WRIGHT BRIERLEY,
all of Slough, in the County of Bucks, Railway Signal Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MODE OF OR APPARATUS FOR LOCKING AND INTERLOCKING THE LEVERS
THAT WORK RAILWAY POINTS AND SIGNALS."
This Invention has for its object the more effectual interlocking of railway points
and signal levers. The apparatus being reduced to a few simple elements it will be
almost impossible, on account of the simplicity of the working parts, for it to get
out of order.
The apparatus consists of the usual girder which supports the hand levers and
on which they have their centre of motion, the top plate through which the levers
pass, the end plates or sides which connect the whole apparatus together, and the
hand levers which are of the usual form.
A sleeve or jacket is attached to that portion of the levers which passes through
the top plate of the apparatus. To this sleeve is connected a foot depressor, which
travels with the lever during its motion across the slot in the top plate; on the
lower portion of the sleeve or jacket are two studs or projections, which when the
treadle or foot depressor is pushed down by the action of the foot of the operator,
enter the notches in discs that are connected to revolving shafts running the whole
length of the apparatus, one shaft being placed in front and the other shaft being
placed behind the row of levers. The two horizontal revolving shafts are connected
together by means of connecting rods attached to the end discs, or by endless chains
Dion C037

page_text: passing round two extra discs placed at the end of the horizontal shafts. When
the treadle or foot depressor is pushed down it is caused to resume its normal
position, at the completion of the stroke of the lever at either end of its slot in the
top plate by means of a coiled spring or counterbalance weight, which is attached
partly to the lever and partly to the sleeve or jacket to which the foot depressor is
connected.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-When it is desired to move the key
lever of a combination, the foot depressor is depressed, when one of the studs or
projections on the sleeve enter the notch in the disc on the horizontal revolving
shaft, and may cause the shaft to turn slightly, all the other discs being made
fast to the same shaft will also be caused to revolve to the same extent as the key
lever disc, thereby immediately locking all the levers which might be in conflict with
the key lever. As soon as the key lever is moved from its normal position it causes
the discs and shaft to rotate a little more; the apparatus then remains in a quiescent
state until the lever has nearly completed its traverse across the slot in the top
plate, when the other stud on the sleeve will catch the notch in the disc which is
keyed on the back revolving shaft, and will give a further turn to both shafts (they
being connected together by connecting rods or their equivalent); and, finally, the
lever having quite completed its traverse, the spring or weight on the lever will
cause the sleeve and foot depressor to rise and lock the lever in its new position,
and at the same time bringing the notch of the disc of No. 2 lever of the combi-
nation under its corresponding stud, so that No. 2 may be pulled over in the same
way as No. 1 had been.
The action of depressing the treadle of No. 2 will cause the disc belonging to
No. 1 to partially rotate, and thereby effectually back lock it so that the foot
depressor of No. 1 cannot be actuated, as the stud on the sleeve of No. I would
bear upon the plane periphery of its disc which would thus act as a lock.
The revolving motions of the discs would be always in the same direction for one
combination, but when the levers are replaced in their normal positions the motions
of the discs would be reversed.
In order to prevent the horizontal shafts and discs from being rotated by
nccident, or other than by the action of the levers, a very simple and effectual catch
lock is attached to the ends of the horizontal revolving shafts. This catch lock,
which consists of a catch pawl and a notched dise (the number of notches corre-
sponding with the number of motions that would be made by the levers) which is
keyed on to the horizontal disc shafts. The catch is raised from the notches in the
catch disc by means of forked tappets attached to another horizontal shaft, the
forked tappets being depressed by the action of the studs on the sleeve of the levers
entering the notches in the locking discs.
The depression of the tappets causes the shaft to which they are attached to rock,
and thereby raises the catch pawl out of one of the notches in the catch disc; the
catch disc then revolves with the horizontal disc shaft, and the tappets being then
released from the action of the stud on the sleeve of the lever the catch pawl drops
into another notch in the catch disc, and so holds the catch disc firm and tight
until it is released in the manner before described. The catch pawl is caused to
drop into its corresponding notch in the catch disc by means of a spring or other
equivalent mechanical device.

page_text: '
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Brierley, Frederick Wade Briorley, and Walter Wright Brierley
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th November 1877.
"
JOHN BRIERLEY, FREDERICK WADE BRIERLEY, and WALTER WRIGHT BRIERLEY,
all of Slough, in the County of Bucks, Railway Signal Engineers. IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MODE OF OR APPARATUS FOR LOCKING AND INTERLOCKING THE LEVERS
THAT WORK RAILWAY POINTS AND SIGNALS."
This Invention has for its object the more effectual interlocking of railway point
and signal levers than by the system now in use. The apparatus whereby this
object is effected consists of a few simple elements, so that it will be almost
impossible, on account of the simplicity of the working parts, for it to get out of
order.
The apparatus comprises the usual girder which supports the hand levers, and
on which they have their centres of motion. In addition to this there is a top
plate through which the levers pass, and there are end plates or sides which connect
the whole apparatus together. The band levers which work the several parts are
of the usual form and construction.
A sleeve or jacket is adapted to that part of the levers which passes through the
top plate of the apparatus. To this sleeve is connected a foot depressor, which
travels with the lever during its motion across the slot in the top plate; on the
lower portion of the sleeve are two studs or projections which (when the treadle
or foot depressor is pushed down by the action of the foot of the operator) enter
notches in discs that are keyed on revolving shafts which extend the whole length
of the apparatus, one shaft being. placed in front or in advance of, and the other
shaft being placed behind the row of hand levers. The two horizontal revolving
shafts are connected together by means of connecting rods or links attached to the
end discs, or by endless chains passing round two extra discs placed at the two
ends of the horizontal shafts. After the treadle or foot depressor has been pushed
down and the pressure of the foot has been removed, the treadle is caused to resume
its normal position (at the completion of the stroke of the lever at either end of the
slot in the top plate) by means of a coiled spring or counterbalance weight, which
is attached at one end to the sleeve (to which the foot depressor is connected) and
at the other end to the hand lever.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-When it is desired to move the key
lever of a combination, the foot step is depressed, and one of the studs or projections
on the sleeve will enter the notch in the disc on the horizontal revolving shaft and
cause the shaft to turn slightly. All the other discs being made fast to the same
shaft will also be caused to revolve to the same extent as the key lever disc,
thereby immediately locking all the levers which might conflict with the key lever.
As soon as the key lever is moved from its normal position it causes the discs and
shaft to rotate a little more; the apparatus then remains in a quiescent state until
the lever has nearly completed its traverse across the slot in the top plate, when
the other stud on the sleeve will catch the notch in the disc which is keyed on the
back revolving shaft and will give a further turn to both shafts (they being con-
nected together by rods or their equivalent); and, finally, when the lever has quito
completed its traverse the spring or weight on the lever will cause the sleeve and
foot depressor to rise and lock the lever in its new position, and at the same time
will bring the notch in the disc belonging to No. 2 lever of the combination under
its corresponding stud, so that No. may be pulled over in the same way as No. 1
had been.
The action of depressing the footstep of No. 2 will cause the disc belonging to
No. 1 to partially rotate, and thereby will back lock it so that the foot depressor
of No. 1 cannot be actuated, as the stud on the sleeve of No. 1 would bear upon
the plane periphery of its disc, which would thus act as a lock.
The revolving motions of the discs, would always be in the same direction for

page_text: one combination, but when the levers are replaced in their normal positions the
notions of the discs would be reversed.
In order to prevent the horizontal shafts and discs from being rotated by accident,
or otherwise than by the action of the levers, a very simple and effectual catch lock
is attached to the ends of the horizontal revolving shafts. This catch lock consists
of a catch pawl and a notched disc (the number of notches corresponding with the
number of motions that would be made by the foot steps or sleeves of the levers),
and is keyed on to the horizontal disc shafts. This catch pawl is raised from the
notches in the notched disc by means of forked tappets attached to a second hori-
zontal shaft, the forked tappets being depressed by the action of the studs on the
sleeve of the levers entering the notches in the locking discs.
The depression of the tappets causes the shafts to which they are attached to
rock, and thereby raises the catch pawl out of one of the notches in the catch disc.
This latter then revolves with the disc shaft, and the tappets being then released
from the action of the stud on the sleeve of the lever the catch pawl drops into
another notch in the catch disc, and so holds the catch disc firm and tight until it
is released by the stud again striking one of the tappets, which would raise the
catch pawle and allow the catch disc again to rotate. The catch pawl is caused to
drop into the notch in the catch disc by means of a spring or other equivalent
mechanical device.
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an interlocking
apparatus, consisting of three levers; Fig. 2 is a side view of the same with the
end plate and catch pawl and disc removed.
Fig. 3 is a detached view of the catch pawl and disc in its locked position; and
Fig. 3a is a view of the same in its unlocked position, or while the pawl is freed
from the notches in the disc by the action of the sleeve stud on the tappet.
Fig. 4 represents detached views of the three disc locks, which in the Drawing
are in order to avoid complexity placed one below the other for facility of reference,
and are numbered 1, 2, and 3.
In Figures 1 and 2 a is the bottom plate or girder on which the hand levers b
have their centres of motion; c, c, are the sleeves attached to each hand lever;
and d, d, are the foot steps; e, e, are arcs formed underneath the top plate f for the
purpose of catching the sleeves c at either end of the slot in the top plate, and so
holding the lever fast. The studs or projections g, g', on the sleeves c are intended
to enter into notches I, ', in the locking discs i, i, which are keyed on the hori-
zontal revolving shafts j, j'. These shafts j, j', are connected togther at their ends
by means of plain discs and connecting rods or links , so that no one of the locking
dises i, i, can be moved without the motion being instantly communicated to all
the locking discs in the apparatus. The springs 1, 1, cause the sleeves c, c, and foot
steps d, d, to rise at each end of their stroke, and as soon as they have passed the
end of the arcs e; m, m', are the forked tappets, which are firmly secured to the
tappet shafts n, n¹, which are connected together by means of the crank arms o, o¹,
and connecting rod or link p. The spring 7, Figure 2, is connected by one end to
the link or rod p, and thereby causes the tappets m, ml, to resume their proper
positions, and thereby engage or disengage the pawlr from connection with the
catch disc 8.
The hand lever No. 3, in Fig. 1, is the key lever, and it will be seen in Figures 2
and that the notch of the locking disc i is opposite to the study of the
sleeve c of No. 3. Immediately the foot step d is depressed, stud g will enter the
notch of the disc i, and the tappet m will be pushed down and the pawl r raised
from the catch disc s (Fig. 3a), leaving all the discs i, i, and catch disc 8 free to
rotate. This rotation will be caused by the movement of the hand lever, which on
being pulled over will cause the stud g to pull round the disc i, and communicate
the rotatory motion to all the discs through the medium of the connecting rods k.
As the lever advances the stud will leave the notch in the disc i, and at the same
time the tappet m, being released from contact with the stud, will be caused to
resume its original position, and the pawl will fall into notch No. 2 in the catch

page_text: disc s.
The first rotatory motion of the shafts j, j', will be communicated to all the
locking discs both back and front equally, and will cause the notch in the disc i¹
to come exactly opposite to the stud g¹ on the sleeve c of the hand lever, and as
this lever completes its traverse across its slot, the stud g will be caused to enter
the notch of the disc ¹, thereby depressing the tappet m¹ and raising the pawl
from the notch in the catch disc s so as to release all the discs and allow them all
to rotate. This position is best seen in Fig. 3. As soon as the hand lever has
quite completed its traverse the spring will cause the sleeve c and foot step d to
rise hehind the are e, thereby releasing the tappet m¹ and causing the pawl to
fall into notch No. 3 in the catch disc s. The concluding motion of the hand lever
also causes the notch h of No. 2 lever to come opposite to the stud g of its sleeve,
thereby unlocking No. 2, which in its turn if pulled over will back lock No. 1,
and on the completion of its traverse will unlock No. 3. The first motion of No. 3
after being unlocked will cause No. 2 to be back locked, and on the completion of
its traverse across its slot the combination will be complete, and No. 3 will be the
key lover when it is necessary to cause the apparatus to resume its normal
position.
It will be evident that the same arrangement of interlocking may be effected by
means of a spring catch rod adapted to the hand lever. By this means the treadle
or foot step d may be dispensed with, but we prefer to employ the foot step as
being cheaper, more reliable, and giving greater power to the signalman
Having now described our Invention of "Improvements in the Mode of and
Apparatus for Locking and Interlocking the Levers that Work Railway Points and
Signals," and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, we
wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent we
claim,―
First. The combination with the hand levers of locking apparatus for working
the points and signals of railways of a sleeve and foot step or depressor, as and for
the purpose herein set forth.
Secondly. The combination with the moveable sleeve and depressor of the notched
locking discs i, i¹, as and for the purpose herein set forth.
We also claim the combination with the above parts (or their equivalents) of the
catch locking apparatus, consisting of the tappets m, m', the pawls , and catch
discs 8, as and for the purpose herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Wade Brierley, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Twenty-second day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
LDDK TIT TDIRDI
FDDR W
W. BR
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7 ΠΤΙΤΑΤΤΤΑΤ
(L.S.)