Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Locking, Controlling and Indicating the Movements of Railway Switches or their Equivalent and Co-operating Parts.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 15th April, 1897- Accepted, 31st July, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Locking, Controlling
and Indicating the Movements of Railway Switches or their
Equivalent and Co-operating Parts.
I, JAMES HENRY BOYLETT, of 106 Hyde Park Avenue, Forest Hills, Boston, in
the State of Massachusetts one of the United States of America, Machinist, 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:
Railway switches, inovable frogs, etcetera, particularly in yards and interlocking
systems, are usually provided with positive locks, in addition to the switch operating
mechanism, both the operating mechanism and the locking mechanism being
operated from a distant tower.
As at present constructed, it might happen that the connections between the
switch and operating "box" or tower might fail to throw the switch and yet permit
the usual movement of the operating mechanism; so that the operator receiving
no indications of such failure from the interlocking mechanisin night perform all
the proper movements, supposing that he had moved the switch.
For instance, he might pull the operating "box" or tower lever to throw the
switch, and, the switch connections being broken, the switch would not be thrown,
although the tower mechanism worked in its proper normal manner; then having
locked the switch he might give a clear signal to indicate that the switch had been
thrown, the switch, however, not having been thrown, but having been simply
relocked in its unchanged position.
The switch and signal might thus be at variance without any fault on the part
of the operator and without any notification to him of the error.
My invention provides means to indicate to the operator whether the switch has
been thrown or not, thereby to prevent the giving of an improper display of the
signal, and contemplates means to prevent movement of the switch lock without
proper precedent movement of the switch or switch device with which the lock
co-operates.
I so construct or arrange the lock that it is prevented from being operated unless
the switch device has been properly moved, the movement of the latter co-operating
with the lock to permit it to again lock the switch device.
In the accompanying drawings illustrative of one embodiment of my invention,
Fig. 1 shows in plan sufficient portions of a usual split switch and its operating
connections, provided with my invention, to enable those skilled in the art to
understand the general arrangement thereof.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of my invention, the cover being removed to
show the details of construction, the parts being shown in the positions assumed
when the switch is locked to the main track clear.
Fig. 3 is a similar view, the parts being shown in the positions assumed when
the switch is unlocked, having been shifted to the siding.
Fig. 4 is a vertical, longitudinal section, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

page_text: Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail in perspective of the lock and adjacent parts, the
cover being removed.
Figs. 6-9 are similar views of the moving parts in detail.
The rails A, switch points B, or other switch devices, connecting bar C, lock rod D,
and connections E leading to the operating mechanism in the tower, may be and are
of usual or preferred construction.
G designates a locking device, which may be of any kind desired, that herein
shown for convenience of illustration in connection with the preferred embodiment
of my invention, being of the ordinary plunger type, in which a plunger or bolt g is
reciprocated from the tower by means of links g₁ and bell cranks 2 to enter one or
the other of the holes d, d, according as the switch is set for the siding or for
the main line.
The bolt slides in bearings in the opposite flanges or lugs h, h¹, of the plate H,
secured to a tie of the roadbed.
The gist of my invention resides in providing means to insure that the switch
when once locked must be moved before it can be re-locked, or, in other words, in
providing means to prevent the proper operation of the lock (and if desired of the
signal and other mechanism connected therewith or dependent thereon) unless the
switch has actually moved as required; said means being herein embodied in
the following mechanism, which I will now describe.
A stop l, an actuator therefor, and a slide 1² are arranged to reciprocate in ways
provided in the casting H1.
The stop is projected into the path of the plunger by means of a bevelled
face of the slide engaging a corresponding bevelled inner end of the stop, and
is retracted by means of the engagement of similar bevels 1º, g³, on the outer end
thereof and on the plunger respectively.
Similarly the actuator has bevelled ends 1, l', co-operating respectively with the
bevelled lug g of the plunger g and the bevelled recess of the slide 2.
As the plunger g is pulled back to unlock the switch, its bevel gf wedges against
17, thereby pushing the actuator inwardly, and this movement brings the
bevels 18, 19, into co-operation and crowds the slide over to the left from the position
of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3, causing the bevel to pull against the bevel (+ and
project the stop l, as stated; the three parts 1, 11, 12, thus constituting a train acted
upon at its end bevels 1, 1, by the lug bevels g³, g, of the plunger to be reciprocated
one way or the other, according to the movement of the plunger.
The stop has a transverse holding groove 10 cut therein adapted to receive a
holding rib m depending from the dog m¹ and seated in a way h² in the casting H¹,
the dog m also having preferably a similar rib m² at one end and another rib m³ at
its edge travelling in ways provided in the casting for the purpose of giving rigidity
and strength to the apparatus.
The dog is reciprocated by engagement with its bevelled ends m³ and m³ of
the lug n on the slide bar and the finger p of the escapement cam p¹.
As the dog moves into the position of Fig. 3 in the operation of unlocking the
switch, the holding rib m enters the groove 10 and holds the stop against
movement so that it acts as a rigid stop to engage the lug ³ and prevent the
operation of the plunger to lock the switch; and as it is moved into the position of
Fig. 2 the rib and groove are disengaged, so that the stop is no longer held rigidly
to act as a stop, but may be shoved aside as the plunger 7 is operated to lock the
switch.
The slide bar n¹ is directly connected to one or both of the switch points, moving
therefore as the switch is moved, and thus the dog m¹ is moved back to release the
stop each time the switch is actually moved; if, however, the connections E should
be broken, the switch would not be moved, notwithstanding that the operator in
the tower properly moved the operating mechanism, and hence, the switch itself
not having actually moved, the dog m¹ is undisturbed and remains holding the
stop in the path of the plunger y, making it impossible to again lock the switch
which had just been unlocked.

page_text: I have shown the lug n as on a bar pivotally connected to the switch, in order to
permit the inevitable movements of the switch, etcetera, due to creeping, changes
in temperature, etcetera, but the lug n or other equivalent means may be otherwise
placed, if desired; as, for instance, it may be on the lock bar D if preferred.
A roller d² is provided to retain the bar D in position for accurate alignment with
the plunger g.
As the dog m¹ is moved back by the lug n, its end m5 swings the cam p' around
on its pivot p² into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the finger p moving
in a pocket 12 in the slide 2, and the shoulder p³ projecting into the path of
movement of a lug g5 on the plunger.
The latter being moved inwardly to lock the switch, first turns the cam p¹ into
the dotted position Fig. 3, and then upon engaging the stop l, pushes the same in,
slides and brings the end 13 against the finger p, thereby turning the cam p¹ back
into its full-line position, Fig. 2, so that it is in position to be subsequently engaged
by the lug g when the plunger g is withdrawn.
and
The withdrawal of the plunger turns the cam p' into the full-line position Fig. 3,
thereby throwing the dog m¹ forward, as shown in Fig. 3, to engage the stop
render it rigid as a stop to prevent any return of the plunger to relock the switch
until the switch has been thrown, as explained above.
The signal S is connected in any usual manner, either directly or through the
interlocking mechanism of the tower, to lock G, so that, by reason of the apparatus
already described, it is rendered impossible that the signal should be given unless
the switch has not merely been supposed to have moved because of the correct
working of the tower mechanism, but has actually moved, thereby permitting the
lock to be operated.
A cover plate H2, preferably slightly upturned at its upper edge 2 to fit into
a correspondingly shaped groove in the flange h, secures the parts in position on
the casting Has shown in Fig. 4, the bent edge 2 serving to keep out rain
and prevent accidental movement of the cover.
The operation of the mechanism described is as follows:-
When it is desired to shift the switch, the plunger 7 is retracted from its position
Fig. 2 to its position Fig. 3, the bevel * acting on the bevel and through the
bevels 1, 18, 1, 4, to project stop 1, and the lug g' engaging the cam p¹ and p³ to
turn the cam and throw the dog m¹ forward by means of finger p, to hold the
stop rigidly in projected position.
No locking movement of the plunger can now take place, for the reason that
stop is in the path of the lug g³, and serves as a means to indicate the position
of the switch to the operator; for, even though the tower mechanism should operate
correctly, the operator finds it impossible to operate the lock unless the switch itself
has actually been moved.
When the switch moves, the lug n engages a face m and moves the dog m' out
of engagement with the stop l, permitting the bevel 93 of the plunger to shove the
stop out of the way and allow the plunger to be moved into its locking position.
This movement of the stop l, moves slide 12 to the right, Fig. 2, projecting the
actuator and turning the cam p to their full-line positions Fig. 2, to be engaged
by the plunger g when it shall be again withdrawn.
"
I have shown and prefer to employ a train of sliding parts substantially as
described, for the reason that it cannot easily get out of order, no springs or gearing
is necessary, the parts are simple, inexpensive, strong, and will endure a great
amount of wear; but I do not restrict my invention to this embodiment, inasmuch
as various other means to accomplish the same ends may be substituted, either as
a part of or separate from the switch and lock.
For convenience, I have illustrated and described my invention in connection
with an ordinary switch, but I wish it understood that my invention is in nowise
restricted in this respect, and that by the word switch or switch device in the claims,
I mean to include any kind of switch, or accessory or other device where my
invention may be used to advantage.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is:-
In means or apparatus for locking, controlling and indicating the movements of
railway switches and co-operating parts.
1. The provision with a switch device and its co-operating lock, of means to
prevent movement of said lock without precedent movement of its co-operating
switch device, substantially as described.
2. The combination with a switch, and its lock, of means connected to and
operated by said switch and lock to indicate to the operator whether the switch has
been operated or not, said means being independent of the switch signal, substantially
as described.
3. A switch device, and a lock therefor, and a stop, mechanism to move said stop
into the path of said lock when the switch device is unlocked, and means to rigidly
hold said stop when so moved, substantially as described.
4. A switch device, and its lock, provided with a stop, mechanism to move said
stop into the path of said lock when the switch device is unlocked, a holding device
for said stop, and means operated by the switch device to release said holding
device, substantially as described.
5. A switch device, and a lock therefor, together with a stop, mechanism to move
said stop into the path of said lock when the switch device is unlocked, a holding
device for said stop, and means operated by the lock in its unlocking movement to
engage said holding device with said stop, substantially as described.
6. A switch device, its lock, and means to prevent locking movement of the latter,
and a bar co-operating with said means, said bar being pivotally connected at one
end to the switch device and movable therewith, substantially as described.
7. The combination with a switch, and its signal, of means to prevent two
movements of the signal without intervening movement of the switch, substantially
as described.
8. A switch, its signal and a switch-lock, and means operated by said lock to
prevent two movements of the signal without intervening movement of the switch,
substantially as described.
9. The combination with the base H', and a flange h, of a cover for said base, said
cover being provided at one end with an upturned edge adapted to fit a corre-
spondingly shaped groove provided therefor in said flange, substantially as described.
10. The combination, or arrangement and use of means to indicate to the operator
whether the switch has been thrown, or not, to prevent improper signalling and
means to prevent movement of the switch lock without proper precedent movement,
of the switch, or switch device with which the lock co-operates, substantially as
described and shown by the drawings.
Tot day of April 1897.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.