IMPROVEMENTS IN SWITCH-BOXES
Year: 1880

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Richard Christopher Rapier at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd November 1880.
RICHARD CHRISTOPHER RAPIER, of 5, Westminster Chambers, in the City of
Westminster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SWITCH-BOXES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in switch-boxes, and applies to
switch boxes having turn over levers and weights.
In the Drawings annexed to this Specification, Figure 1 is a plan view; Figure 2
is an elevation, and Figure 3 is an end view of one form of my improved switch-
box with turn-over handle, and the improvement consists in using a lover with a
T shaped head, which is shown separate in detail in Figure 4. The lever a is so
arranged that in one position the limb b is thrust by the weight A against one side
of the arin of the bell crank & which actuates the switches, and in the other position
of the lever 'a, shewn in dotted lines, the limb c of the T head is thrust against the
other side of the arm of the bell crank and pushes it in the contrary direction. This
arrangement enables the lever a to be made entirely of wrought iron, which is
much better able than cast iron to withstand the blows and jars consequent on the
lever and balance-weight being thrown over suddenly as such levers often are.
The weight A may be of cast iron.
The Invention applies also to switch-box with a rigid lever, that is a lever which
recovers" the switches to the same side for use, in cases where it is desirable that
the switches should always after use be restored by the action of the balance weight
so as to close the siding.
Figure 5 is a plan view; Figure 6 is an elevation, and Figure 7 is an end view
of such a switch box.
•
The lever and the handle are made in one piece by preference of wrought
iron. There is a fulcrum pin p, and an enlarged hole e engages the end of the bell
crank lever in such a way that the action of the balance weight W tends to depress
the end of the bell crank k.

page_text: If on the other hand it be desired to use the same or a similar switch box to
govern a set of points in a contrary direction; this can be attained by moving the
lever as shewn by the dotted lines, so as to make its fulcrum at p¹, and in that
case the end of the bell crank would be engaged by the enlarged hole f, and the
action of the balance weight W would be to elevate the end of the bell crank, and
so retain the switches in a direction contrary to that previously described. It will
be observed that in this type of switch box, the bell crank moves in a vertical
plane and the lower end is at a convenient height for attaching the switch-rod. It
is also so placed that the switch rod leads fair from the centre of the switch-box in
all cases.
Figures 8 and 9 are elevations of the same type of switch-box but with another
turnover lever. In Figure 8 the lever is mounted on a pivot p, and the end of
the lever is produced beyond the pivot so as to support the end of the bell crank.
Now if the lever be turned over so as to lie in the position shown by the
dotted lines, the part of the lever will depress instead of elevate the end of the bell
crank, and will thus hold the switches in the contrary direction.
Figure 9 is the same switch box and the same lever as in Figure 8, but with the
lever moved so that the pivot is at p, and this has the effect of obtaining positions of
switches the contrary of those obtained in Figure 8 with the same position of the
balance weight or disc.
These variations meet the case of right and left hand switches, and also of their
varied positions, and also of the varied positions of the disc which in practice inay
be required, any desired combination being obtainable by the means described.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
First. The construction of switch boxes with a T headed turnover lever, sub-
stantially as described in respect to the Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Second. The construction of switch boxes, substantially as described in respect to
Figures 5, 6, and 7, with the provision of two alternative pivot holes on the switch
box and the lever, with one pivot hole and two large eyes for engaging the end of
the bell crank, either in the upper or lower position.
Third. The construction of switch boxes with turn-over lever, substantially as
described in respect to Figures 8 and 9.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Christopher Rapier, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Third day of November, in the year of our
Lord, One thousand eight hundred and eighty.