Improvements in and connected with Railway Signalling Apparatus.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 16th May, 1891-Accepted, 23rd Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Railway Signalling
Apparatus.
I, ARTHUR GEORGE EVANS of 116 Palace Chambers, Bridge Street, West-
minster in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to working switch points, as for example cross-over
roads or sidings (but facing points may be operated similarly) in conjunction with
the disc signals relating to the said switch points. Although disc signals are
mentioned it is of course understood that any form of signal may be operated. At
the present time it is the usual practice say for example with a cross-over road
leading from a siding to a passenger line, to either provide disc signals working
with the switches of the crossing, or to provide an independent disc for operations
from the siding to the passenger line, the latter disc being operated by an
independent lever in the signal cabin. The former of course are simply operated
by the switches. It is obvious in the first instance that no protection whatever is
afforded as when the switch points are moved the discs are shown "all clear" for
movements in both directions. Again in the latter case for a movement from the
passenger road back into the siding, as a rule no indication is given whatever.
The object then of my invention is to arrange that the same lever which operates
the switch points shall also operate a disc signal at either end of the crossing,
which shall so work that under no circumstances can both discs be off at once, that
is to say that an authorized movement can be given in one direction only at one
It is also provided for that when the signal is given the points themselves
are locked on the ground.
time.
The hereinafter description for the sake of illustration refers to the motion plate
fixed in the vertical position. The motion plate works in practically a similar
manner when it is fixed in its horizontal position.
I carry out my invention in the following manner:-1 arrange a lever in the
locking apparatus in the signal cabin, having its normal position midway in the
segment so that it is pushed back to perform one operation and pulled forward to
perform the other. Attached to the said lever is the usual downright connection,
but in place of the usual pedestal crank I arrange at the end of the downright rod
a flat plate in which is cut a V slot with a straight projection at either end, and in
the said slot is a stud or friction roller attached to the horizontal rod connection
which operates the points. The stud or friction roller attached to the horizontal
connecting rod is normally in the middle of the V slot in the vertical rod. The
actuating horizontal rod is run to the points in the usual manner. The wire of one
disc is connected to the back tail of the operating lever in the signal cabin and the
wire of the other is connected to the front tail. The stretcher bars are prolonged
from both of the switch points and slides worked by the signal wires are arranged
to cross them or pass through them, so as to lock the points and also to prevent the
moving of the signals unless the points are home. Instead of separate blades
operating across the prolongations of the stretcher bars, detecting discs may be
used by which the balance lever is prevented from being operated to lower the disc
unless the points are home and the notch in the prolongation of the stretcher bar is
opposite the said lever.
I wish it to be understood that I do not bind myself to the manner or position of
fixing the motion or slot plate in the vertical position under the tail of the lever,
for it is obvious that it may be fixed just outside the signal box or at any con-
venient position between the tail of the lever and the points themselves.

page_text: In the latter case it may be fixed in either a horizontal position or a vertical
position, but preferably the former, as the vertical position is more suitable to be
fixed under the tail of the lever. In reference to the downright rod it is also
obvious that instead of connecting the wires to the tails of the lever, as two move-
ments are given upon the motion plate, means may be provided by unequal cranks
attached to the motion plate, or a cross-bar or sway beam by which the two motions
of the motion or slot plate may be utilized to operate the two disc signals, the
movement in one direction pulling in one wire operating the signal, and paying out
slack wire in the other, and vice versa in the other movement of the motion plate.
When the signalman wishes to give authority say for a shunt back from the
main to the siding or main line cross-over road, he moves his operating lever in
the signal box from the middle position backward or forward as the case may be,
he gives a motion on the downright rod in which the V slot is provided, to which I
have hereinbefore referred as the motion plate, to the extent of forcing the stud or
roller attached to the horizontal rod along the diagonal slot until it comes into the
straight portion of the same and by that means the points are operated. The same
action also pulls the wire and operates the signal for that direction and locks the
points on the main line. In order now that a movement may take place from the
siding to the main line, when the lever is placed normal it is moved from the middle
position forward, an upward movement is given to the downright rod and the motion
plate and a similar action takes place of the horizontal rod travelling along the
second diagonal slot forming the V until the roller or stud is working in the
straight portion of the slot. By this action the points are again worked and
the signal is given for the movement to take place from the siding to the main line,
and the siding points are also locked by means of the before mentioned blade, and
detecting disc in connection with the projection from the stretcher bar.
It is obvious that the herein before described invention somewhat modified as
will be hereinafter described, is particularly applicable to the working of any
signals that refer to any points, that is to say that the facing point lever of an
ordinary junction may operate the facing points and work the two facing signals.
In this particular case the motion plate need not be of that double description
which is hereinbefore referred to, and in the one direction of moving the lever, say
from the middle position forward, need not actuate the points, but the friction
roller is allowed to travel along a lengthened vertical slot which would not operate
the point rod but operate the facing signal for the direction in which the points
normally lie. When the lever is operated from the middle position backward the
points would be operated by the friction roller being moved along the diagonal
slot and into the straight portion and the signal operated by the same movement.
The action herein before referred to in regard to facing signals is equally
applicable in connection with trailing signals.
My invention is therefore applicable to the working of a signal or signals that
refer to the same pair of points, by the same lever that operates the points.
It is obvious of course that, if for instance in the case of a subsidiary locking
frame or if by any reason the downright rods are not required for operating points,
that is to say if the horizontal rod is actuated direct off the lever, that my motion
plate takes the place of the horizontal crank usually fixed in front of the signal
box, or ground frame and that the action of the lever is direct on to the horizontal
connections, the signal connections being as before described actuated so that the
movement of the lever backward operates one signal and the movement of the
lever forward operates the other, the same connections being fixed at the switches
as hereinbefore described to ensure that the signals cannot be operated unless the
respective points are home.
Dated this 23rd day of Anvil 1001
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
2, Great George Street, Westminster, London, S.W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.

page_text: .
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Railway Signalling
Apparatus.
I, ARTHUR GEORGE EVANS of 116 Palace Chambers Bridge Street, West-
minster in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has reference to working switch points, as for example cross-over
roads or sidings (but facing points may be operated similarly) in conjunction with
the disc signals relating to the said switch points.
Although disc signals are mentioned it is of course understood that any form of
signal may be operated.
At the present time it is the usual practice say for example with a cross-over
road leading from a siding to a passenger line, to either provide disc signals
working with the switches of the crossing, or to provide an independent disc for
operations from the siding to the passenger line, the latter disc being operated by
an independent lever in the signal cabin. The former of course are simply operated
by the switches. It is obvious in the first instance that no protection whatever is
afforded as when the switch points are moved the discs are shown "all clear" for
movements in both directions.
Again in the latter case for a movement from the passenger road back into the
siding, as a rule no indication is given whatever. The object then of my invention
is to arrange that the same lever which operates the switch points shall also operate
a disc signal at either end of the crossing, which shall so work that under no
circumstances can both discs be off at once, that is to say that an authorized
movement can be given in one direction only at one time. It is also provided for
that when the signal is given the points themselves are locked on the ground.
The hereinbefore description for the sake of illustration refers to the motion plate
fixed in the vertical position. The motion plate works in practically a similar
manner when it is fixed in its horizontal position.
I carry out my invention in the following manner :-
I arrange a lever in the locking apparatus in the signal cabin, having its normal
position midway in the segment, so that it is pushed back to perform one operation
and pulled forward to perform the other. Attached to the said lever is the usual
downright connection, but in place of the usual pedestal crank I arrange at the end
of the downright rod a flat plate in which is cut a V slot with a straight projection
at either end, and in the said slot is a stud or friction roller attached to the
horizontal rod connection which operates the points.
The stud or friction roller attached to the horizontal connecting rod is normally
in the middle of the V slot in the vertical rod. The actuating horizontal rod is run
to the points in the usual manner. The wire of one disc is connected to the back
tail of the operating lever in the signal cabin and the wire of the other is connected
to the front tail. The stretcher bars are prolonged from both of the switch points
and slides worked by the signal wires are arranged to cross them or pass through
them, so as to lock the points and also to prevent the moving of the signals unless
the points are home. Instead of separate blades operating across the prolongations
of the stretcher bars, detecting discs may be used by which the balance lever is
prevented from being operated to lower the disc unless the points are home and the
notch in the prolongation of the stretcher bar is opposite the said lever.
I wish it to be understood that I do not bind myself to the manner or position of
fixing the motion or slot plate in the vertical position under the tail of the lever, for
it is obvious that it may be fixed just outside the signal box or at any convenient
position between the tail of the lever and the points themselves.
In the latter case it may be fixed in either a horizontal position or a vertical

page_text: position, but preferably the former, as the vertical position is more suitable to be
fixed under the tail of the lever.
In reference to the downright rod it is also obvious that instead of connecting the
wires to the tails of the lever, as two movements are given upon the motion plate
means may be provided by unequal cranks attached to the motion plate, or a cross-
bar or sway beam by which the two motions of the motion or slot plate may be
utilized to operate the two dise signals, the movement in one direction pulling in one
wire operating the signal, and paying out slack wire in the other and vice versa in
the other movement of the motion plate.
When the signalman wishes to give authority say for a shunt back from the main
to the siding or main line cross-over road, he moves his operating lever in the signal
box from the middle position backward or forward as the case may be, he gives a
motion on the downright rod in which the V slot is provided, to which I have
hereinbefore referred to as the motion plate, to the extent of forcing the stud or
roller attached to the horizontal rod, along the diagonal slot until it comes into the
straight portion of the same and by that means the points are operated. The same
action also pulls the wire and operates the signal for that direction and locks the
points on the main line. In order now that a movement may take place from the
siding to the main line, when the lever is placed normal it is moved from the middle
position forward, an upward movement is given to the downright rod and the motion
plate and a similar action takes place of the horizontal rod travelling along the
second diagonal slot forming the V until the roller or stud is working in the straight
portion of the slot. By this action the points are again worked and the signal is
given for the movement to take place from the siding to the main line, and the
siding points are also locked by means of the before mentioned blade, and detecting
disc in connection with the projection from the stretcher bar.
It is obvious that the hereiubefore described invention somewhat modified as will
be hereinafter described, is particularly applicable to the working of any signals
that refer to any points, that is to say the facing points lever of an ordinary junction
may operate the facing points and work the two facing signals.
In this particular case the motion plate need not be of that double description
which is herein before referred to, as in the one direction of moving the lever, say
from the middle position forward, it need not actuate the points, but the friction
roller is allowed to travel along a lengthened vertical slot which would not operate
the point rod but operate the facing signal for the direction in which the points
normally lie.
When the lever is operated from the middle position backward the points would
be operated by the friction roller being moved along the diagonal slot and into the
straight portion and the signal operated by the same movement.
The action hereinbefore referred to in regard to facing signals is equally
applicable in connection with trailing signals.
My invention is therefore applicable to the working of a signal or signals that
refer to the same pair of points, by the same lever that operates the points.
It is obvious of course that, if for instance in the case of a subsidiary locking
frame or if by any reason the downright rods are not required for operating points,
that is to say if the horizontal rod is actuated direct off the lever, that my motion
plate takes the place of the horizontal crank usually fixed in front of the signal box
or ground frame, and that the action of the lever is direct on to the horizontal
connections, the signal connections being as before described actuated so that the
movement of the lever backward operates one signal and the movement of the lever
forward operates the other, the same connections being fixed at the switches as
herein before described to ensure that the signals cannot be operated unless the
respective points are home.
In order that my invention may be better understood and readily carried into
effect I will describe the drawing hereunto annexed. The same letters refer to
the same parts or substitutes therefor in the several figures of the drawing.
Figure 1 illustrates a lever in an interlocking apparatus in the normal middle

page_text: position. Connected to the left hand tail (for the purpose of illustration as it may
be connected to the right hand tail) in the drawing is shown a downright rod a
connected to a motion plate b; b is the upper straight portion of the slot; 62 the
upper diagonal portion of the slot; 63 the middle portion in which the friction roller
is when the lever is normal; 6 is the lower diagonal slot; 65 the lower straight
slot; c is the friction roller attached to the blades d through which the points are
operated; e is a link connecting the said blades d to a cross bar f; g is the
connecting rod to the points.
Figure 2 illustrates a diagram of either an up and down road connected by a
cross-over road, or a siding and a main line, or any similar pairs of metals connected
by a crossing. Two discs and j authorize movements through the crossing, h in
one direction and j in the other; k is a prolongation from the stretcher bar; l is a
blade in the wire operating the disc ; a similar blade or substituted contrivance
is arranged in connection with the signal ; and the switch points referring to it.
Figure 3 illustrates my invention when fixed in substitution of the horizontal
crank.
In this case the usual vertical crank is connected by the downright rod to the
tail of the lever and my motion plate is fixed in substitution of the horizontal crank
and the short connection connecting the lower end of the vertical crank to the
motion plate.
Figure 4 illustrates a modification of Figure 1 but without the cross bar f. In
order that the rod g in Figure 4 may be on the same level as g Figure 1, which is
supposed to be the usual lever for point rods leading out of a signal box, the motion
plates works into a small pit, otherwise the figures are identical in working.
Figure 5 illustrates a lever in an interlocking apparatus arranged in the normal
middle position.
Connected to the left hand tail of the lever is a motion plate having a lengthened
upper vertical slot m, a diagonal slot n and a small lower straight slot o.
The remaining parts in this figure are identical with Figure 1.
Figure 6 illustrates a sketch of a junction, either a main line or a junction of two
lines in a siding, or a main line and siding. In this figure p is the disc for the left
hand road, and 9 is the disc for the right hand road. In the case of the points
are normally right for the disc to be lowered but in the case of p the points have
to be operated before this disc can be lowered. For working discs and points such
as are illustrated in Figure 2 my arrangements as shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4 are
applicable, there being in all cases a V slot in the plate, the action of the lever
either forward or backward operating the points the same in the one case operating
one signal and in the other case operating the other.
In Figures 5 and 6 however, although the lever operates to the two positions yet
in one position if a disc is required to be operated in connection with the normal
position of the points, the friction roller Figure 5 is not operated horizontally but
the lengthened slot m simply moves down over the said friction roller but does not
operate the rod g. With this action however, as the wire s is connected to the
signal q Figure 6 this signal is lowered. When however the points are required to
be moved and the signal p given the lever is moved from the middle position back-
ward, the motion plate is moved upward, and the rod g through its cross bar and
blades is moved a distance equal to the width of the upper diagonal slot and the
lower.
In all cases of discs and the points nearest to them it can be so arranged that the
discs cannot be lowered unless the points are home, by any of the known means, and
I do not claim any novelty in connection with detecting the action of the disc, only
in combination with the motion plate.
With reference to Figure 5 it is obvious that although this design of my motion
plate is shown in the vertical position and raised from the ground, yet it can be fixed
in the horizontal position similar to the double motion plate as illustrated in
Figure 3, or in a pit as illustrated in Figure 4.

page_text: In Figure 1 the wire t to operate one disc is connected to the one tail of the lever
and the wire v to operate the other is connected to the other tail of the lever.
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 railway signalling apparatus the employment of one lever in an interlocking
apparatus moving from a normal middle position forward and thereby operating a
pair of switch points and the signal in connection therewith, and again from the
normal middle position backward operating the same switch points but a different
signal, substantially in the manner set forth and for the purposes described.
2. In railway signalling apparatus the employment of one lever with a normal
middle position the said lever operating to one position (say forward for illustration
only) thereby operating a pair of switch points and a signal and operating from the
normal middle position (say backward for the purpose of illustration only) operating
a signal.
3. In railway signalling apparatus the employment of a motion plate w Figure 5
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
4. In railway signalling apparatus the application of my improved motion plate
fixed in a horizontal position as illustrated in Figure 3 to work off a vertical crank
or substitute therefor, which latter is operated by the interlocking lever in the
apparatus, substantially as herein described and for the purposes set forth.
Dand this 10th J
CM 1001
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
2, Great George Street, Westminster, S. W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
2, Great George Street, Westminster, S. W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.