Improvements in Apparatus for Electrically Controlling_and Registering the Movements of Keys in connection with Rail- way Block Instruments and for other purposes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Mar., 1892-Accepted, 14th May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Electrically Controlling_and
Registering the Movements of Keys in connection with Rail-
way Block Instruments and for other purposes.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT SYKES Senior of 43 Larkhall Rise, Clapham in the
County of Surrey, Telegraph Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
My invention consists primarily in electrically controlling the withdrawal of a
key which withdrawal enables the signalman to cancel a signal in error, and in
addition to electrically controlling the withdrawal and reinsertion of this key it also
registers the number of times of withdrawal.
For the purposes of this invention I will describe the application of my invention
to block telegraph instruments.
It is obvious that the application of this invention is large as for instance a key
utilized for any purpose in its normal position in the lock may be electrically
controlled in the manner hereinafter described with reference to cancelling signals
on railways.
At the present time in signal boxes there are keys which are normally hung up
or in any position that may be readily got at, which by insertion in the block
instrument for electric locking enables the signalman by its movement to cancel
a signal which has been previously given in error. It will be readily seen in this
case that the key being free after having performed its first operation is of such a
nature that the signalman may if he chooses go through the same operation to any
extent of cancelling signals.
The object of my invention is that when once the key has been withdrawn the
block telegraph circuit to which the key refers is broken or a bell circuit is
In addition to the
broken, the substance being that an electric circuit is broken.
withdrawal of the key there is registered that the key has been withdrawn once and
until after the key has performed its duty and is reinserted in the lock the circuit
is broken down and is only re-established by the reinsertion of the key and it being
turned to its locked position.
As one illustration of the way in which my invention can be carried out I will
take the case of an ordinary lock and fix a click on the end of the bolt the said
click operating in connection with a toothed wheel or counter, which has a number
of teeth regulated according to the full number required. The click engages into
The wheel is revolved once and
a ratchet tooth and indicates each time it is used.
the indicator moves to the second figure. When the key is withdrawn the electric
circuit is broken and remains broken until the reinsertion of the key. When the
key is withdrawn it is put into an instrument as now and the signal in error is
cancelled which is the ordinary system now for cancelling signals.
A further means may be applied for instance in addition to the withdrawal of the
key, in the action of withdrawal a ticket may be issued or a paper marked showing
when the key has been withdrawn and if used in connection with a clock it may be
arranged that the time of withdrawal is stated if necessary, and this is an
improvement.
I arrange if necessary that the key itself may be normally locked and the
ignalman in the cabin in which the key is imprisoned cannot of his own will
withdraw the key for to withdraw it a current must be sent from the section in the
rear or advance as is necessary which releases a detent enabling the key to be
withdrawn.

page_text: Upon the key being withdrawn it is now inserted in the usual place for cancelling
the signal in error.
The withdrawal of this key breaks down a circuit which may be a bell circuit,
and up-block circuit, a down-block circuit, a telephone circuit or any circuit.
The reinsertion of the key places everything normal. It is also self locked in 5
its inserted position.
Doted this and dox of Lune 1901
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
2. Great George Street, Westminster, S.W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.
:
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Electrically Controlling and
Registering the Movements of Keys in connection with Rail-
way Block Instruments and for other purposes.
1, WILLIAM ROBERT SYKES Senior of 43 Larkhall Rise, Clapham in the County
of Surrey, Telegraph 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:-
My invention consists primarily in electrically controlling the withdrawal of a
key which withdrawal enables the signalman to cancel a signal in error, and in
addition to electrically controlling the withdrawal, and reinsertion of this key it also
registers the number of times of withdrawal.
For the purposes of this invention I will describe the application of my invention
to block telegraph instruments.
It is obvious that the application of this invention is large as for instance a key
utilized for any purpose in its normal position in the lock may be electrically
controlled in the manner hereinafter described with reference to cancelling signals
on railways.
At the present time in signal boxes there are keys which are normally hung up
or in any position that may be readily got at which by insertion in the block
instrument for electric locking enables the signalman by its movement to cancel a
signal which has been previously given in error. It will be readily seen in this case
that the key being free after having performed its first operation is of such a nature
that the signalman may if he chooses go through the saine operation to any extent
of cancelling signals.
The object of my invention is that when once the key has been withdrawn the
block telegraph circuit to which the key refers is broken, or a bell circuit is broken,
the substance being that an electric circuit is broken. In addition to the withdrawal
of the key there registered that the key has been withdrawn once and until after
the key has performed its duty and is reinserted in the lock the circuit is broken
down and is only re-established by the reinsertion of the key and it being turned to
its locked position.
As one illustration of the way in which my invention can be carried out I will
take the case of an ordinary lock and fix a click on the end of the bolt the said
lick operating in connection with a toothed wheel or counter which has a number
of teeth regulated according to the full number required. The click engages into
a ratchet tooth and indicates each time it is used. With a partial rotation of the
wheel the indicator moves to the second figure. When the key is withdrawn the
electric circuit is broken and remains broken until the reinsertion of the key.
When the key is withdrawn it is put into an instrument as now and the signal in
error is cancelled, which is the ordinary system now for cancelling signals.
A further means may be applied, for instance in addition to the withdrawal of the
key, in the action of withdrawal a ticket may be issued or a paper marked showing
when the key has been withdrawn and if used in connection with a clock it may be

page_text: arranged that the time of withdrawal is stated if necessary, and this is an improve-
ment.
I arrange if necessary that the key itself may be normally locked and the signalman
in the cabin in which the key is imprisoned cannot of his own will withdraw the key,
for to withdraw it a current must be sent from the section in the rear or advance as
is necessary which releases a detent enabling the key to be withdrawn.
Upon the key being withdrawn it is now inserted in the usual place for cancelling
the signal in error. The withdrawal of this key breaks down a circuit which may
be a bell circuit, an up-block circuit, a down-block circuit, a telephone circuit, or
any circuit.
The reinsertion of the key places everthing normal.
It is also self locked in its inserted position.
In order that my said invention may be better understood and more readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed. The
same letters refer to the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.
Figure 1 shows a front view of the apparatus without its case.
a is a spring fastened at b. c, d, e are the ordinary indices or counters providing
indication up to 999. is the click which gears with the ratchet wheel behind the
nnit counter. The click is hinged to a lever g which latter is also centred at h.
iis, the bolt of an ordinary lock. is the key, k is a stop or pin preventing the key
from being withdrawn in that direction.
In
It will be seen that the click by means of a spring is connected to the bolt i.
Figure 2 is a view including Figure 1 with the addition of the ticket box.
this figure the addition consists in the lever g being prolonged and provided at the
top with a slide m the said slide m pushing a ticket out at the bottom of the box
through the slot n.
Figure 3 includes Figure with the addition of the magnet and armature
provided for the electric control of the section in advance or rear as is necessary.
In this figure o, o' are the magnet coils, p is the armature.
It will be seen on reference to this figure that a projection 9 upon the bolt i is
provided, which is normally foul of the armature p, the bolt by that means being
normally locked. is the line wire and is the earth wire.
Figure 4 is a repetition of. Figure 1 with the addition that connection is made
with a metallic paper dial worked by an ordinary clock, or in lieu of a metallic dial
it may be a paper strip, by means of a marker or pen u, marked to the seconds. By.
means of the marker indication is made upon the dial as to the number of times the
key is withdrawn and also the duration of the withdrawal.
In reference to Figures 2 and 4 it is obvious that the counters may be dispensed
with if desirable.
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. An improved apparatus for registering the number of times of withdrawal of
a key and also the duration of such withdrawal, substantially as herein described
and as illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
2. In block working for railways, registering the time of withdrawal, the duration
of the withdrawal and the number of times of withdrawal of a key used for any purpose,
substantially as herein described and as illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of March 1892.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
2, Great George Street, Westminster, London, S. W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.