Improvements in connection with Railway Signals.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 10th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1892
[Communicated from abroad by HENRY ARTHUR LIVOCK, of 130 Calle 25 De Mayo,
Buenos Ayres, Civil Engineer.]
Improvements in connection with Railway Signals.
I, ARTHUR GEORGE EVANS of 116 Palace Chambers Westminster in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
My improvements relate to the method of actuating two railway signals by one
lever without the intervention of any ground gear.
There are at the present time no means of actuating two or more railway signals
by one lever, that either lead from two lines on to one or one on to two, except by
means of apparatus fixed upon the ground, which is actuated by the movement
of the points such as is now generally done by what is known as the Simplex
machine.
The essence of my invention however consists in the abolition of any apparatus
upon the ground, and determines as to which of the two signals shall be operated by
a lock in the interlocking apparatus.
I effect my invention in the following manner :--
In the interlocking apparatus 1 arrange the lever which is intended to operate
the two signals so that its normal position is midway in the frame and a movement
from the middle position backward will operate one signal and a movement from
the normal or middle position forward will operate the other signal. In order
however that the signal for one direction shall not be operated when the points lie
for the conflicting direction I arrange a special lock attached to this lever in the
frame interlocking the point lever with the signal lever in such a manner that
assuming the signal lever to be normal and the points to be normal also, the
movement of the lever from its normal position back will lock the point lever in
that position and operate the signal for that direction, but in replacing the signal
lever it cannot be moved beyond the middle position. In order now that the said
lever may be moved forward to give the other signal the points themselves must
first of all be moved to set the road for that direction and the signal lever can then
be moved forward for that direction.
The special lock consists of a sliding plate with a slot through which the point
lever works and as many slots as there are signal levers to be interlocked.
The slot through which the point lever operates is a diagonal slot and those
through which the signal levers operate are zigzag slots having projections in their
middle. As the signal lever is normally in the middle position the projections in
the zigzag slot are provided to ensure that after the signal lever has been operated
to the back position they will prevent it being moved beyond the normal or middle
position during the operation of replacing it from the back position, that is to say
that it will not be possible to work the lever from the back position right over to
the forward position in one movement, the lever having to be replaced to its normal
position and there stay until the movement of the points has been gone through,
in this case to release the signal lever and then allow it to be moved from the
middle position forward. The same action of course takes place in reference to
replacing it from the forward position as herein before described with reference to
replacing it from the back position.
The operation consists that when the point lever has been moved the said move-
ment operates through the diagonal slot upon the lock and moves it along, the
projection upon the lock on the signal lever being moved to allow the latter lever

page_text: to be moved or moves it in front of the lever and locks it as the special circum-
stances of the case require.
It is obvious that modifications of this may be made, as for instance it is equally
applicable to facing signals as to trailing, and one lever if desirable could be made
to operate three signals, in which case two special locks would be required. It is
essential in the majority of cases that a special lock be attached to each point lever
working in connection with respective signal levers unless the points themselves
work simultaneously.
The principle of interlocking herein described which is essentially novel in
reference to its application can also be extended for interlocking purposes
generally.
1001
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
2, Great George Street, Westminster, London, S. W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in connection with Railway Signals.
I, ARTHUR GEORGE EVANS of 116 Palace Chambers, Westminster in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My improvements relate to the method of actuating two railway signals by one
lever without the intervention of any ground gear. There are at the present time
no means of actuating two or more railway signals by one lever, that either lead
from two lines on to one or one on to two, except by means of apparatus fixed upon
the ground, which is actuated by the movement of the points, which is now generally
done by what is known as the Simplex machine. The essence of my invention
however consists in the abolition of any apparatus upon the ground, and determines
as to which of the two signals shall be operated by a lock in the interlocking
apparatus.
1 effect my invention in the following manner :-
In the interlocking apparatus I arrange the lever which is intended to operate
the two signals so that its normal position is midway in the frame and a movement
from the middle position backward will operate one signal and a movement from
the normal or middle position forward will operate the other signal.
In order however that the signal for one direction shall not be operated when
the points lie for the conflicting direction I arrange a special lock attached to this
lever in the frame interlocking the point lever with the signal lever in such a
manner that assuming the signal lever to be normal and the points to be normal
also, the movement of the lever from its normal position back will lock the point
lever in that position and operate the signal for that direction but in replacing the
signal lever it cannot be moved beyond the middle position. In order now that
the said lever may be moved forward to give the other signal the points themselves
must first of all be moved to set the road for that direction and the signal lever can
then be moved forward for that direction.
The special lock consists of a sliding plate with a slot through which the point
lever works and as many slots as there are signal levers to be interlocked.
The slot through which the point lever operates is a diagonal slot and those
through which the signal levers operate are zigzag slots having projections in their
middle. As the signal lever is normally in the middle position the projections in
the zigzag slot are provided to ensure that after the signal lever has been operated
to the back position they will prevent it being moved beyond the normal or middle
position during the operation of replacing it from the back position, that is to say,

page_text: that it will not be possible to work the lever from the back position right over to
the forward position in one movement, the lever having to be replaced to its normal
position and there stay until the movement of the points has been gone through,
in this case to release the signal lever and then allow it to be moved from the
middle position forward. The same action of course takes place in reference to
replacing it from the forward position as hereinbefore described with reference to
replacing it from the back position.
The operation consists that when the point lever has been moved the said move-
ment operates through the diagonal slot upon the lock and moves it along the
projection upon the lock on the signal lever being moved to allow the latter lever
to be moved or moves it in front of the lever and locks it, as the special circum-
stances of the case require.
It is obvious that modifications of this may be made, as for instance it is equally
applicable to facing signals as to trailing, and one lever if desirable could be made
to operate three signals, in which case two special locks would be required. It is
essential in the majority of cases that a special lock be attached to each point lever
working in connection with respective signal levers unless the points themselves
work simultaneously.
The principle of interlocking herein described which is essentially novel in
reference to its application can also be extended for interlocking purposes
generally.
In order that my invention may be better understood and more readily carried
into effect I will describe the drawings hereunto annexed. The same letters and
figures refer to the same parts or substitutes therefor in the several figures of the
drawing.
Figure 1 is an illustration on plan of the locking trough through which the
tappets attached to the levers slide. In the said tappets are notches and operating
into the said notches are locks connected together by slides which work at the
bottom of the troughs of the locking bar. The numbers in this figure at the top
of the tappets refer to the levers in the locking frame which operate the said
tappets, such levers also operating the signals and points as illustrated in Figure 3.
Figure 1 also shows the tappet interlocking necessary for effecting the majority of
the locking of the station as shown in plan in Figure 3.
Figure 2 illustrates the special locking plate which forms the subject of my
invention. In this figure the numbers 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 refer to the levers in the
locking apparatus which operate the points and signals as shown in Figure 3. In
this figure A is the locking plate operating in connection with the points 3 and the
locking bar and signals 4 and starting signals Figure 3. C is a locking plate
similar to A but operating in connection with the points 8 and signals 9 and starting
signals 6. This Figure 2 illustrates a plan of the locking plates, in which 3, the
lever working the points, is shown in the normal or unworked position. 4 can be
moved forward but not backward in consequence of the projection a². In that
position, in moving forward, the points would be normally free, and the left hand
signal operated by lever 4 could be operated by the movement of 4 forward into
the slot a. Should it be required to get the right hand signal, 4 would have to be
moved backward, but as previously described cannot be moved unless 3 is
operated, which working through the slot a¹ upon the plate A moves the plate
forward until the projection a obstructs the forward movement of 4, but the
projection a having moved clear allows lever 4 to be moved forward into the
slot a. The movement backward backlocks the points in the ordinary way and
lowers the right hand signal +, Figure 3. The same description refers to the
levers 6, 7, and 8, the action of lever 8 being operated obstructing or freeing the
movement of 6 and 7 as is required, in order that the road may be right before
the respective signal can be given.
In a similar manner lever 5 being in the middle normal position cannot move
forward through the notch a' obstructing its passage. It can move backward
through the slot a³ and by that would lower the right hand signal 5 leading out of

page_text: the up platform. It is necessary that the points should be moved over and the
action of moving 3 moves the slot plate A so that the notch or projection a' is
moved clear of lever 5 and the notch or projection a' is moved foul of the backward
movement of 5. If 5 is now moved forward along the slot a' it will lower the left
hand signal from the down platform and backlock the points 3. In a similar manner
lever 6 being in the middle position operates backwards or forwards according to
the position of the points and gives either the left hand or the right hand starting
signal, worked by that lever.
Figure 3 is a plan of a single line station signalled for traffic in both directions,
showing the two starting signals at each end of the station, worked by the same
lever. The down starting signals are worked by lever 5, either one or the other
being operated according to whether the lever is moved backward or forward,
as described with reference to Figure 2. The starting signals in the up direction
are worked by lever 6 in the same manner. The facing signals 4 are operated
through the lever 4 as hereinhefore described with reference to Figure 2.
Figure 4 shows a side view of a lever such as 4 in its normal position and also
illustrates about the position of the plate Figure 2, through which the lever is
interlocked with the respective points.
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 operating two signals that refer to a pair of
points, that is where the points are normal for one signal and the points operated
for another signal, by one lever, the normal position of the lever being in the centre
of the segment, the movement backward operating one signal and forward operating
the other signal.
2. In railway signalling apparatus, operating railway signals in the manner
described with reference to Claim 1 by the locking plates as illustrated in Figure 2
of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 10th day of November 1891
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
2, Great George Street, Westminster, S. W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 10th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by HENRY ARTHUR LIVOCK, of 130 Calle 25 De Mayo,
Buenos Ayres, Civil Engineer.]
Improvements in connection with Railway Signals.
I, ARTHUR GEORGE EVANS of 116 Palace Chambers Westminster in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:--
My improvements relate to the method of actuating two railway signals by one
lever without the intervention of any ground gear.
There are at the present time no means of actuating two or more railway signals
by one lever, that either lead from two lines on to one or one on to two, except by
means of apparatus fixed upon the ground, which is actuated by the movement
of the points such as is now generally done by what is known as the Simplex
machine.
The essence of my invention however consists in the abolition of any apparatus
upon the ground, and determines as to which of the two signals shall be operated by
a lock in the interlocking apparatus.
I effect my invention in the following manner :--
In the interlocking apparatus I arrange the lever which is intended to operate
the two signals so that its normal position is midway in the frame and a movement
from the middle position backward will operate one signal and a movement from
the normal or middle position forward will operate the other signal. In order
however that the signal for one direction shall not be operated when the points lie
for the conflicting direction I arrange a special lock attached to this lever in the
frame interlocking the point lever with the signal lever in such a manner that
assuming the signal lever to be normal and the points to be normal also, the
movement of the lever from its norinal position back will lock the point lever in
that position and operate the signal for that direction, but in replacing the signal
lever it cannot be moved beyond the middle position. In order now that the said
lever may be moved forward to give the other signal the points themselves must
first of all be moved to set the road for that direction and the signal lever can then
be moved forward for that direction.
The special lock consists of a sliding plate with a slot through which the point
lever works and as many slots as there are signal levers to be interlocked.
The slot through which the point lever operates is a diagonal slot and those
through which the signal levers operate are zigzag slots having projections in their
middle. As the signal lever is normally in the middle position the projections in
the zigzag slot are provided to ensure that after the signal lever has been operated
to the back position they will prevent it being moved beyond the normal or middle
position during the operation of replacing it from the back position, that is to say
that it will not be possible to work the lever from the back position right over to
the forward position in one movement, the lever having to be replaced to its normal
position and there stay until the movement of the points has been gone through,
in this case to release the signal lever and then allow it to be moved from the
middle position forward. The same action of course takes place in reference to
replacing it from the forward position as hereinbefore described with reference to
replacing it from the back position.
The operation consists that when the point lever has been moved the said move-
ment operates through the diagonal slot upon the lock and moves it along, the
projection upon the lock on the signal lever being moved to allow the latter lever

page_text: to be moved or moves it in front of the lever and locks it as the special circum-
stances of the case require.
It is obvious that modifications of this may be made, as for instance it is equally
applicable to facing signals as to trailing, and one lever if desirable could be made
to operate three signals, in which case two special locks would be required. It is
essential in the majority of cases that a special lock be attached to each point lever
working in connection with respective signal levers unless the points themselves
work simultaneously.
The principle of interlocking herein described which is essentially novel in
reference to its application can also be extended for interlocking purposes
generally.
Dated this 10th day of March 1891.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
2, Great George Street, Westminster, London, S.W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in connection with Railway Signals.
I, ARTHUR GEORGE EVANS of 116 Palace Chambers, Westminster in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My improvements relate to the method of actuating two railway signals by one
lever without the intervention of any ground gear. There are at the present time
no means of actuating two or more railway signals by one lever, that either lead
from two lines on to one or one on to two, except by means of apparatus fixed upon
the ground, which is actuated by the movement of the points, which is now generally
done by what is known as the Simplex machine. The essence of my invention
however consists in the abolition of any apparatus upon the ground, and determines
as to which of the two signals shall be operated by a lock in the interlocking
apparatus.
1 effect my invention in the following manner :-
In the interlocking apparatus I arrange the lever which is intended to operate
the two signals so that its normal position is midway in the frame and a movement
from the middle position backward will operate one signal and a movement from
the normal or middle position forward will operate the other signal.
In order however that the signal for one direction shall not be operated when
the points lie for the conflicting direction I arrange a special lock attached to this
lever in the frame interlocking the point lever with the signal lever in such a
manner that assuming the signal lever to be normal and the points to be normal
also, the movement of the lever from its normal position back will lock the point
lever in that position and operate the signal for that direction but in replacing the
signal lever it cannot be moved beyond the middle position. In order now that
the said lever may be moved forward to give the other signal the points themselves
must first of all be moved to set the road for that direction and the signal lever can
then be moved forward for that direction.
The special lock consists of a sliding plate with a slot through which the point
lever works and as many slots as there are signal levers to be interlocked.
The slot through which the point lever operates is a diagonal slot and those
through which the signal levers operate are zigzag slots having projections in their
middle. As the signal lever is normally in the middle position the projections in
the zigzag slot are provided to ensure that after the signal lever has been operated
to the back position they will prevent it being moved beyond the normal or middle
position during the operation of replacing it from the back position, that is to say,

page_text: that it will not be possible to work the lever from the back position right over to
the forward position in one movement, the lever having to be replaced to its normal
position and there stay until the movement of the points has been gone through,
in this case to release the signal lever and then allow to be moved from the
middle position forward. The same action of course takes place in reference to
replacing it from the forward position as herein before described with reference to
replacing it from the back position.
The operation consists that when the point lever has been moved the said move-
ment operates through the diagonal slot upon the lock and moves it along the
projection upon the lock on the signal lever being moved to allow the latter lever
to be moved or moves it in front of the lever and locks it, as the special circum-
stances of the case require.
It is obvious that modifications of this may be made, as for instance it is equally
applicable to facing signals as to trailing, and one lever if desirable could be made
to operate three signals, in which case two special locks would be required. It is
essential in the majority of cases that a special lock be attached to each point lever
working in connection with respective signal levers unless the points themselves
work simultaneously.
The principle of interlocking herein described which is essentially novel in
reference to its application can also be extended for interlocking purposes
generally.
In order that my invention may be better understood and more readily carried
into effect I will describe the drawings hereunto annexed. The same letters and
figures refer to the saine parts or substitutes therefor in the several figures of the
drawing.
Figure 1 is an illustration on plan of the locking trough through which the
tappets attached to the levers slide. In the said tappets are notches and operating
into the said notches are locks connected together by slides which work at the
bottom of the troughs of the locking bar. The numbers in this figure at the top
of the tappets refer to the levers in the locking frame which operate the said
tappets, such levers also operating the signals and points as illustrated in Figure 3.
Figure 1 also shows the tappet interlocking necessary for effecting the majority of
the locking of the station as shown in plan in Figure 3.
Figure 2 illustrates the special locking plate which forms the subject of my
invention. In this figure the numbers 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 refer to the levers in the
locking apparatus which operate the points and signals as shown in Figure 3. In
this figure A is the locking plate operating in connection with the points 3 and the
locking bar and signals 4 and starting signals 5 Figure 3. C is a locking plate
similar to A but operating in connection with the points 8 and signals 9 and starting
signals 6. This Figure 2 illustrates a plan of the locking plates, in which 3, the
lever working the points, is shown in the normal or unworked position. 4 can be
moved forward but not backward in consequence of the projection a³. In that
position, in moving forward, the points would be normally free, and the left hand
signal operated by lever 4 could be operated by the movement of 4 forward into
the slot a Should it be required to get the right hand signal, 4 would have to be
moved backward, but as previously described 4 cannot be moved unless 3 is
operated, which working through the slot a' upon the plate A moves the plate
forward until the projection a obstructs the forward movement of 4, but the
projection a having moved clear allows lever 4 to be moved forward into the
slot a. The movement backward backlocks the points in the ordinary way and
lowers the right hand signal 4, Figure 3. The same description refers to the
levers 6, 7, and 8, the action of lever 8 being operated obstructing or freeing the
movement of 6 and 7 as is required, in order that the road may be right before
the respective signal can be given.
In a similar manner lever 5 being in the middle normal position cannot move
forward through the notch a obstructing its passage. It can move backward
through the slot a and by that would lower the right hand signal 5 leading out of

page_text: the up platform. It is necessary that the points should be moved over and the
action of moving 3 moves the slot plate A so that the notch or projection a' is
moved clear of lever 5 and the notch or projection a is moved foul of the backward
movement of 5. If 5 is now moved forward along the slot a' it will lower the left
hand signal from the down platform and backlock the points 3. In a similar manner
lever 6 being in the middle position operates backwards or forwards according to
the position of the points and gives either the left hand or the right hand starting
signal, worked by that lever.
Figure 3 is a plan of a single line station signalled for traffic in both directions,
showing the two starting signals at each end of the station, worked by the same
lever. The down starting signals are worked by lever 5, either one or the other
being operated according to whether the lever is moved backward or forward,
as described with reference to Figure 2. The starting signals in the up direction
are worked by lever 6 in the same manner. The facing signals 4 are operated
through the lever 4 as herein before described with reference to Figure 2.
Figure 4 shows a side view of a lever such as 4 in its normal position and also
illustrates about the position of the plate Figure 2, through which the lever is
interlocked with the respective points.
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 operating two signals that refer to a pair of
points, that is where the points are normal for one signal and the points operated
for another signal, by one lever, the normal position of the lever being in the centre
of the segment, the movement backward operating one signal and forward operating
the other signal.
2. In railway signalling apparatus, operating railway signals in the manner
described with reference to Claim 1 by the locking plates as illustrated in Figure 2
of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 10th day of November 1891.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
2, Great George Street, Westminster, S.W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.