Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1887.
Complete Left, 22nd Apr., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 10th May, 1887.
I, PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents 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 consists of a new device by which parts to which it is attached can be
moved between given positions, and automatically locked therein by a single motion.
It is applicable to all sorts of machines, and situations, where those functions or either
of them are to be performed.
It consists in general of two knee-joints, pivoted to and operated simultaneously
by a single lever. Each of the knee-joints is connected at one end with some
stationary point, and at the other end with the part to be moved. The principle
of operation is that each of the pivots by which the actuating lever is attached to a
knee-joint, act as the fulcrum in moving the other knee-joint; and the principle of
locking is that when either one of the knee-joints is extended in a straight line, the
part to which it is attached is locked in position, against any force, except through a
reverse movement of the actuating lever."
In the accompanying drawings, in which the same letters indicate like parts,
Figures 1 and 2 are plans representing the principle of the device, in two of the various
forms in which it may operate.

page_text: A is a fixed part, B is a movable rod, bar, or other part, intended to be moved up
and down against the part
A. D is the operating lever, which I shall call the
"actuating "lever. e, e and f,f1, are the two knee-joints. In Fig. 1 the knee-joints
are shown pivoted at their adjacent inner ends of the links e and f¹ to two fixed
parts h and h¹.
°
The lever D is pivoted to the two knee-joints at the points i and i respectively, but
is not fulcrumed like an ordinary lever, upon any stationary part.
The operation is as follows :-
If, while the knee-joints are in the position shown in Fig. 1 the handle of the
lever D be moved downward, two forces are simultaneously applied to the knee-joints,
one acting to the right upon the pivot ¹ and the other acting to the left upon the
pivot which forces, tend respectively to straighten the knee-joints f, f1 and
double e, e, thus co-operating to send the part upward; since h, h¹ and A are fixed;
i is the fulcrum from which f¹ is moved, and ¹ is the fulcrum from which ee¹ is
moved.
When the composing links of either knee joint form a straight line, no power
applied in that line against the movable part can move it. The straight line can only be
broken by a reverse movement of the actuating lever. Thus the part is unlocked from
a given position, moved and locked in the other given position by a single movement,
and by a positive action. The hinge of the knee-joint may go a little beyond the
straight line to make the lock more secure.
The part which connects the lever D and one of the knee-joints, must be pivoted to
the lover itself as shown at ; for the reason that the distance between i and is a
varying distance.
Not only is it unnecessary to provide any other fulcrum for the actuating lever D
than its two pivotal points upon the respective knee-joints, but it is essential to any
operative device comprising the combined knee-joints and a single actuating lever,
that such lever shall not be pivoted upon any stationary part. The reason of this is
evident when we consider that corresponding points upon the two knee-joints do not
move at the same rate at any given moment, and hence that there is and can be no
point upon the actuating lever which is stationary. This is a vital principle involved
in my invention.
In Fig. 2 the action is upon the same principle, except that the inner ends of the
knee joints are pivoted together upon the stationary part k, and their outer ends m m¹
are pivoted upon the movable part B. The slot in the actuating lever at n is to allow
for the variation of distance between i and i¹.
Another feature of this device, especially! distinguishing it in principle, from a
simple lever used to move a part back and forth between given positions, is that a
greater power is exerted at the beginning and end of the movement, than at
Intermediate points.
.
There are many variations of form which may be made without changing the
principle of the invention. In Fig. 1 the links e¹ and f need not beipivoted together,
but may be pivoted at separate points upon B. The particular points at which the
actuating lever is to be attached to the knee-joints are not involved in the principle.
It may be at the hinges; the nearer the hinge the greater the power obtained, but at
the same time the greater the motion of the actuating lever. This matter may be
regulated according to the convenience or necessity of such case. The object subserved
by the pivoting of one of the arms to D at j, may be accomplished by means of a rigid
arm with a short slot in it for the pivot i to play in.
In both of the figures shown, the actuating lever and the two knee-joints act in the
same plane. That is the simplest construction. But they may act in different planes
without changing the principle. Thus the knee-joints may lie parallel to each other
with the lever at right angles to them. It is not even essential that the knee-joints
should act in parallel planes.
There are two functions performed by the device, the moving and the locking; but
they need not necessarily be combined. Thus, if the knee-joints are so arranged as not
to quite come to a straight line, the device will be a shifting device alone. Or, the

page_text: device may be used for the purpose of locking, while some other means are used to do
the moving. So also, the same device may be used to move two parts instead of one.
Thus if in Fig. should represent a fixed point and h and h¹ parts to be moved, the
two parts h and would be simultaneously moved, and alternately locked in a given
position. All of the various forms are adapted to be used by hand, or with power.
The knee-joint is one of the old and elementary methods of converting one kind of
motion into another, or of combining locking with reciprocating motion. So also a
combination of knee-joints operated by levers fulcrumed upon stationary parts is old.
Therefore I do not claim as my invention a single knee-joint in any method of
operation, nor a combination of knee-joints operated by levers fulcrumed upon fixed
parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
The combination of two knee-joints and an actuating lever, pivoted thereto and
fulcrumed thereupon, substantially as described, as a means of moving parts to
which it is attached back and forth between certain positions, or of locking them
therein.

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 31st May, 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by ROBERT H. ISBELL, of the City, County, and State of
New York, United States of America, Manufacturer.]
Improvements in and Connected with Railway Switches and Signals.
I, PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents 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 the operating mechanism of a railway switch, and has for
its main object the shifting of the movable rails of a switch and locking them in position
by a single movement of a single set of mechanism.
This principle is the principle applied to the purposes of a switch of a certain
mechanical device for the operation and locking of movable parts for which I have
made application for a Patent of even date herewith. This kind of switch has, as
advantages over other kinds in use, greater efficiency, safety, ease of operation and
economy of cost.
"
It consists in general of two adjacent knee-joints pivoted to stationary points and
also to the movable rails of the switch, and operated by a single bar which I term the
actuating lever." Its principle of operation is that the two knee-joints alternately
straighten to shift the rails, one doubling up as the other straightens out, and that
when either knee-joint has its two composing links in a straight line, the rails cannot
be moved without the reverse movement of the operating mechanism. The locking
thus automatically follows the shifting, and without any additional mechanism, instead
of requiring, as in the common kinds of switch, double sets. The actuating lever
which operates the knee-joints, is pivoted to each one of them, but is not fulcrumed
upon any stationary part; its fundamental principle is that the pivot which connects
it with each knee-joint is the fulcrum from which moves the other. My invention
also consists, as hereinafter claimed, of certain details of construction and combination
of parts.
To clearly explain the nature of the invention reference is made to the accompanying
drawings in which :-
:-
Bi 1 ton view of the switch

page_text: Fig. 3 is a top view of the knee-joints and their actuating lover, after shifting the
rails.
Fig. 4 is a top view of a modified application of the same principle.
Fig. 5 is a side view of a safety attachment.
A are the fixed, and B the movable rails of an ordinary switch. 6¹ is one of the
bars fastening the movable rails to each other. To this bar 61 is attached, by the
pivot 6, a bar b, which connects the movable rails with the knee-joints, in the drawings
this is shown as made up of two pieces bolted together at 6". The knee-joints consist
of two links each c c and d d'. The links c and d are pivoted at their opposite outer
ends to the stationary part i, at the points and respectively. The adjacent ends
of the links c and d are pivoted together and to the bar 6 at the point e. These inner
adjacent ends need not be pivoted to at the same point. The bar 6 moves longi-
tudinally through slots in the frame i, which latter is bolted to the ties. It may be
convenient to make b adjustable as to length, for the purpose of setting the switch, as
by cutting it in two and passing a set screw through the upturned ends, or in any
other convenient way. C is the actuating lever, pivoted to the knee-joints c, c and d d
at the points c and d respectively. In the form shown in the drawings in acts in the
same plane as the knee-joints, but that is not essential to the application of the principle.
The lever C is also shown as passing through slots k in the frame i, made large enough
to allow of its necessary motion, but that is not a necessary form, it is not pivoted
to at any point. By means of the connecting rod to which the projecting end
of C is pivoted, its motion may be controlled from any desired point, such as the
standing lever m. One of the projections by which the actuating lever C connects
with the knee-joints is pivoted to Cat the point f. In practice all these operative
parts would be enclosed.
The operation is as follows:-
If, while the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the standing lever m be
moved, the actuating lever C doubles the knee-joint d d and straightens c c², using cl
as a fulcrum to double d d', and d" as a fulcrum to straighten c c. Through their connec-
tion with the bar bat e, this shifts the rails, and the parts come into the position shown
in Fig. 3. The reverse movement of C acts in exactly the same way to shift them in
the other direction. When either knee-joint forms a straight line no power applied
in that line can move them, and thus the switch is automatically unlocked, shifted and
locked by one movement of one lever. Even though the connection between the
switch and switch-house were broken, the switch would remain locked. In the
drawings the hinge of the knee-joint is represented as going a little beyond the straight
line to make the lock more secure.
Not only is it unnecessary to provide any other fulcrum for the actuating lever C
than its two pivotal points upon the respective knee-joints, but it is essential to any
operative device comprising the combined knee-joints and a single actuating lever, that
such lover shall not be pivoted upon any stationary part. The reason of this is evident
when we consider that corresponding points upon the two knee-joints do not move at
the same rate at any given moment, and hence that there is, and can be, no point upon
the actuating lever which is stationary. This is a vital principle involved in my
invention.
The particular points upon the knee joints at which the actuating lever shall be
attached are not involved in the principle. It may be at the hinges. The nearer the
hinge the greater the power obtained, but at the same time the greater the motion of
the actuating lever. This matter may be regulated according to the convenience or
necessity of each case. At least one of the connections of the actuating lever with the
knee-joints must be connected with the lever by a pivot instead of fixedly, for the
reason that in the movement the distance between the two pivotal points c" and d" is
continually changing. The motion is slight however.
A special advantage in the use of the principle of the knee-joint to shift a switch,
aside from automatically unlocking and locking it, is that the greatest power is exerted
where most needed, viz. at the beginning and end of the stroke; at the beginning in
order to make an easy start, and at the end to ensure close contact of the rails in spite

page_text: of particles of dirt accidentally fallen there. This purpose would be subserved though
the knee-joints were so placed as not to come to a straight line and lock the switch.
In Fig. 4 the main principle and operation are the same. The difference is that the
adjacent ends of the knee-joints are pivoted to the stationary part, and the opposite
ends to the moving bar, instead of vice versa. a is the bar attached to the movable
rails. oo and p p are the two knee-joints pivoted to the bar a at a¹ and a¹¹
respectively, and pivoted together and to the stationary part S at the point r. O is
the actuating lever pivoted as before to each knee-joint. To allow for the variation of
distance between the two pivotal points connecting the lever and knee-joints the lever
is slotted at o¹. The form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is however the better for most
situations.
In Figs. 1 and 5, t is a long angle-plate, the top of which is designed to rest at a
level with the top of the rail, when the switch is in either position. It is supported by
two or more short bars t¹, pivoted obliquely upon the rail, and through the connecting
rod น, is operated by the actuating lever of the switch. During the passage of a
train, its wheels, projecting beyond the rail and over t, prevent any movement of the
lever C. It acts thus as a lock against any shifting of the switch from the switch-
house during the passage of a train, and also by its weight as a lock against any
accidental displacement of the knee-joints, if the connections of the lever C with the
switch-house happen to be broken. By another rod attached to the actuating lever, as
at v, a signal can be operated by the same mechanism.
I do not claim as my invention the use of a single knee-joint generally in shifting
and locking a switch, neither do I claim the safety attachment shown in Fig. 5 aside
from its combination with a switch operated by a double knee-joint, but having now
particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign corre-
spondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a railway switch, the combination of two knee-joints and an actuating
lever, each of the knee-joints having one end pivoted upon some stationary part,
and the other end pivoted upon a bar attached to the movable rails, and the lever
being attached to each knee-joint by a pivot which acts as a fulcrum to move the
other, substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. The improved switch shown and described, consisting of movable and fixed rails,
in combination with bar b, double knee-joint c c d d', and actuating lever C.
3. The improved switch shown and described, consisting of movable and fixed rails,
in combination with bar a, double knee-joint o o¹ p p', and actuating lever O.
4. The combination of a switch operated by a double knee-joint and actuating
lever pivoted thereto and fulcrumed thereupon as described, with the angle plate t
and its connections t¹ aud u operated by the said actuating lever, substantially as and
for the purpose described.
5. The combination of a switch operated by a double knee-joint and actuating
lever pivoted thereto and fulcrumed thereupon as described, with mechanism to set
a signal also operated by the said actuating lever, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
6. The combination of a switch operated by a double knee-joint and actuating
lever pivoted thereto and fulcrumed thereupon as described, with the angle plate t and
mechanism to set a signal, both connected to and operated by the said actuating lever,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this and de..
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