Improvements in Interlocking Apparatus for Railways.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 19th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 22nd Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Interlocking Apparatus for Railways.
WILLIAM FREDERICK BURLEIGH Viewlands Knollys Road Streatham S.W.
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in interlocking apparatus known as the
tappet or "Stevens" system of interlocking and consists in preventing locks in one
of a series of grooves in the locking trough from entering notches in the tappet
(during its transit) that drive locks in the next or other adjacent grooves by
making the notches in the tappet assume a different relative level to the locks
during the traverse of the tappet across the path of the said locks to that assumed
when the tappet is normal or pulled over, that is to say assuming the notches in the
tappet when in its normal and also in its pulled over position are at the same
relative level to the locks the notches in the aforesaid tappet would either be at a
higher or at a lower relative level to the locks during the traverse of the tappet
(preferably at a higher relative level), so that when the locks anl when the
notches in the tappet are in close proximity to each other no lock could in-
advertently enter a notch in the tappet other than the notch intended that it
should enter.
In carrying this into effect I preferably arrange the slides and also the tappets
so that they work on edge instead of on the flat and do not cut the bevel notches
(that give motion to the locks) vertically right through the tappets as in general
use but cut them partially through so that when the tappet is raised during its
traverse as hereinafter described a solid portion is presented against the ends of
the locks, so to speak obliterating the notches for the time being.
Where the notches assume a higher relative position to the locks during traverse
I provide a bevelled projection or projections on the locking trough or troughs
with suitable bevel notches on the underside of the tappet to cause it to rise up
during its trausit and also suitable bevelled projection on the upper side of the
tappet acting on the cover of the locking trough to cause the tappet to fall and
present the notches at the completion of its traverse in either direction.
Working the tappets on edge instead of on the flat also enables them to be
placed at much closer centres without in any way diminishing the safety.
To enable the tappet to retain an approximately horizontal position during the
stroke of the lever to which it is attached I provide a slotted hole in the lever with
a suitable slide piece & pin to work in same with straps to attach to tappet or use
links or other suitable motion.
Instead of the bevels on top & bottom of tappet in some cases I employ a slotted
hole or holes in the tappet having bevels at the extreme ends of the slot and
working in suitable guides in the locking trough to cause the tappet to rise and fall
or I attach an extension of the catch rod from the catch handle with suitable guides
so that raising or lowering the catch handle causes the tappet to rise and fall so
keeping the notches at a different relative level to the locks during the traverse of
the tappet.
Dated this 19th day of February 1894.

page_text: Improvements INTETICKIng Apparatus always.
WILLIAM FREDERICK BURLEIGH Viewlands Knollys Road Streatham S.W.
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in, and by the
following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in interlocking apparatus known as the
tappet or "Stevens" system of interlocking and consists in preventing locks in one
of a series of grooves in the locking trough from entering notches in the tappet
(during its transit) that drive locks in the next or other adjacent grooves by
making the notches in the tappet assume a different relative level to the locks
during the traverse of the tappet across the path of the said locks to that assumed
when the tappet is normal or pulled over, that is to say assuming the notches in the
tappet when in its normal and also in its pulled over position are at the same
relative level to the locks the notches in the aforesaid tappet would either be at a
higher or at a lower relative level to the locks during the traverse of the tappet
(preferably at a higher relative level) so that when the locks and when the
notches in the tappet are in close proximity to each other no lock could in-
advertently enter a notch in the tappet other than the notch intended that it
should enter.
In carrying this into effect I preferably arrange the slides 9 and also the
tappet 10 so that they work on edge instead of on the flat and do not cut
the bevel notches 11 (that give motion to the locks) vertically right through the
tappets 10 as in general use but cut them partially through so that when the
tappet 10 is raised during its traverse as hereinafter described a solid portion 12 is
presented against the ends of the locks 13, so to speak obliterating the notches for
the time being.
Where the notches 11 assume a higher relative position to the locks 13 during
traverse I provide a bevelled projection or projections 14 on the locking trough or
troughs 15 with suitable bevel notches 16 on the underside of the tappet 10 to
cause it to rise up during its transit and also suitable bevelled projection 17 on the
upper side of the tappet 10 acting on the cover of the locking trough to cause the
tappet to fall and present the notches at the completion of its traverse in either
direction. Working the tappets on edge instead of on the flat also enables them
to be placed at much closer centres without in any way diminishing the safety.
To enable the tappet 10 to retain an approximately horizontal position during
the stroke of the lever 18 to which it is attached I provide a slotted hole 19 in the
lever with a suitable slide piece & pin 20 to work in same, with straps 21 to attach
to tappet or use links 22 or other suitable motion.
Instead of the bevels on top and bottom of tappet in some cases I employ a
slotted hole or holes in the tappet having bevels at the extreme ends of the slot
and working in suitable guides in the locking trough to cause the tappet to rise
and fall or I attach an extension of the catch rod from the catch handle with
suitable guides so that raising or lowering the catch handle causes the tappet to
rise and fall so keeping the notches at a different relative level to the locks during
the traverse of the tappet.

page_text: Figs. 6. 7 front elevation showing relative level of lock and tappet during the
traverse of the lever from normal to pulled over position and vice versa.
Fig. 8 is a sketch view of part of tappet showing bevel notches and the solid
portion below notches that prevents locks entering notches.
9 Slides to which locks are attached.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In interlocking apparatus for railways causing the notches in the tappets to
assume a different relative level to the locks during the traverse of the tappet to &
fro to that assumed when the tappet is in its normal or in its pulled over position
substantially in the manner described in the foregoing Specification.
2. Continuous solid portion of tappet herein numbered 12 below the level of the
notches for the purpose specified.
3. The combination of the bevels herein numbered 14. 16 causing the tappet to
rise and travel parallel to the locks.
4. The combination of the bevels herein numbered 14. 16. 17 causing the tappet
to rise travel and fall parallel to the locks.
Dated this 19th day of November 1894.
WILLIAM FREDERICK BURLEIGH.