Improvements in Mechanism for Operating Railway Switch and Signal Interlocking Gear.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 10th June, 1892-Accepted, 23rd July, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism for Operating Railway Switch and
Signal Interlocking Gear.
We, HENRY BEZER, of New Rochelle in County of Westchester, State of
New York, Mechanical Engineer, and THOMAS WILLIAM BURLEY, of Long
Island City, in the County of Queens, State of New York, Mechanical 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:-
$6
The object of our invention is to remedy certain defects in those interlocking
apparatus in which is used the system of locking and interlocking well known as
preliminary actuation," and particularly those wherein that part known as the
"rocker" is pivoted to the frame-work of the machine. Those defects, which our
mechanism will remedy, are as follows: first, that frictional resistance which causes
wear and breaking strain while passing the signal or switch lever past the pivot of
the rocker; second, that increasing movement of the rocker possible as the signal
or switch lever approaches the pivot of the rocker which, particularly under
conditions of wear, may dangerously disturb the required safety of the locking, and
which necessitates, therefore, for use with safety of that form of locking known as
miter-locking" and liked for its ease of access and repair, a movement of the
tappets in excess of that required to bring the locks into proper relation with the
tappets, thereby necessitating increased size and space for the lock-box and making
the machine more cumbersome and costly; third, that breakage of the parts liable
from rough usage of the apparatus by the operator or pull upon the catch-rod
clutch while the signal or switch lever is being moved to either of its safety
positions; fourth, that, as the catch-rod clutch must not be pulled upon when the
lever is being moved to either of its safety positions, the catch of the catch-rod
must rub upon the stationary projection from which it is lifted in order that the
lever may be moved. This causes wear to both the parts, which leads to looseness
in the locking.
Figure 1 in the accompanying drawings is a front elevation with some parts in
section on line aa of Fig 2;
Fig. 2, a sectional side elevation of an interlocking machine.
In the figures reference letters show our actuating mechanism applied to a tappet
and lock-box suitable for miter-locking.
We prefer to place the locking and its actuating mechanism above the floor-line
of the machine, as shown; but it will be understood that the tappet A can be linked
to any desired point of the rocker F and work either horizontally or vertically or
rotatively, and also that the locking and its actuating mechanism can be placed
below the floor-line of the machine.
Similar letters of reference in the figures designate corresponding parts.
By means of the usual clutch B its catch-rod C is lifted for disengaging its
catch C¹ from the projection on the stationary segment D. On a stud riveted into
the catch C¹ is the block E.
sliding
F is the arc-shaped lever, which we call the "rocker," pivoted at G to a
piece G', which is capable of sliding in V-shaped guides formed in uprights D',
which may be either cast on or bolted to the segment D. There are ribs F F
cast on the rocker F, forming a groove, within which fits the block E, (or it may be
a roller)..
When the catch-rod is lifted, C' is clear of the projection on the stationary
segment D, thereby unlocking the main lever H, and the block E will have raised
the rocker E. Then the upper surface of the rib F' will be against the shield,

page_text: which is a part of the spring-box K, bolted to the main lever H. The arc of that
surface of the shield K which is directly above the rib F is concentric with the
main lever H, and when the rocker F is raised, as just described, all the engaging
faces of F and F are concentric with the lever H.
The adjustment of the catch-rod C is such that, when the clutch B is brought
against the lever HC is just clear of the projection on the stationary segment D
and F, and therefore the rocker Fis, controlled by,,the, shield K. Although not
compulsory, it is preferable to grasp the clutch B and the lever H when moving the
lever to either of its,safety positions. This keeps C₁ just clear of the projection
on D... It will be seen that throughout the movement, of the lever H there is next
to no movement of the rocker F possible, because of the control of the shield K,
and, if in consequence of wear or not precise fitting of the parts it was possible to
lift the rocker F to a position eccentric with the lever H, as the slide G₁ to which
the rocker F is pivoted can rise with the rocker, there would always be a path for
the block E without that kicking and breaking strain which would result were: the
rocker F pivoted to a fixed base, or it can be described that, as the rocker is pivoted
to a movable base, it adjusts itself concentric with the main lever. Moreover, it
will be observed that the pivot G of the rocker is located centrally with reference
10 the groove between the ribs of the rocker-that is to say, it is in the plane of
he path of motion of the block or roller E in the groove between..the ribs of the
rocker. This avoids those frictional resistances which cause. wear. and breaking
strain while the block or roller is passing the pivot of the rocker where that pivot
is placed, for instance, below the path of motion of the block or roller.
It will be understood that when the catch-rod C lifts C' from one end of the
projection on D and drops it into the other end the rocker F, through the arm F
and link A', operates the tappet A in the usual well-known manner, and that the
movement of the tappet A can be the minimum of what the miter-locking requires,
because of the hereinbefore-described rigid conditions of the rocker F. during the
movement of the main lever H from one to the other of its safety, positions.
We have not thought it necessary to illustrate in the drawings the miter-locking
levices, as they are well known, and it will be understood that locking devices of
any suitable kind could be actuated by our actuating mechanism...
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. The combination, with a main lever for operating a set of railway-switches or
a signal and the catch for holding the said lever in either of its safety positions,
fitted with a block E, of the shield K, the rocker F, pivoted at G to the sliding
base G. and connecting with devices for interlocking that face of the rocker Fland
that.of the shield K which engage with each other, and those faces of the rocker F
which engage with the block E being of such arc form that they can assume a
position concentric with the said main lever whether the clutch B is grasped or not
grasped during the movement of the said main lever from one to the other of
its safety positions, and the rocker F so controlled that it has next to no rocking
movement in any position of the said main. lever other than one: or. the..other of
its safety positions, substantially as and for the purpose herein described..
2. The shield K, in combination with a main lever for actuating a set of railway-
switches or a signal, the catch for holding the said lever in either of its safety
positions, and a rocker connecting with devices for interlocking, substantially as
and, for the purpose herein described...
3. The combination, with a main lever for actuating a set of railway-switches or
a signal and the catch for holding the eaid lever in either of its safety positions, of
a rocker pivoted to a movable base, substantially as and for the purpose herein
described.
4. The combination, with a main lever for actuating a set of railway-switches; or
a signal, said lever being fitted with a shield Kand the catch for holding the said

page_text: lever in either of its safety positions, fitted with a block or roller, of a rocker
grooved to engage with the block or roller and pivoted centrally with reference to
such groove, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 31st day of May 1892.
HENRY BEZER.
THOMAS WM. BURLEY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.