IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING SWITCHES AND POINTS, TURNING PLAT- FORMS, AND THE LIKE, AND COMMUNICATING SIGNALS ON RAILWAYS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Max Hahn, of Berlin, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING SWITCHES AND POINTS, TURNING PLAT-
FORMS, AND THE LIKE, AND COMMUNICATING SIGNALS ON RAILWAYS."
Sealed the 9th March 1880, and dated the 12th September 1879.
;
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Max Hahn at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th September 1879.
MAX HAHN, of Berlin. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING SWITCHES
AND POINTS, TURNING PLATFORMS, AND THE LIKE, AND COMMUNICATING SIGNALS
ON RAILWAYS."
My Invention has for its object the working of switches and points, turning
platforms, and the like, by means of apparatus combined into a system, whereof
all the parts being actuated by a central motor or prime mover are caused to move
uniformly and with mechanical certainty, and to indicate at the central station the
exact state of the line by corresponding movements of controlling or indicating
apparatus. The Invention is designed also to supply the means of verbal com-
munication between the central station and the line.
The apparatus for working switches and points, turning platforms, and the like,
consists of a pump to be worked either by manual labour or mechanical power for
supplying water or air under pressure to a reservoir or accumulator, from which
the fluid is taken and employed for working the apparatus as required. Or water
under pressure may be supplied from a head with a suitable fall. The cylinders
are arranged in pairs, whereof one cylinder receives the water or air for working
the switches, and the other returns the water or air to the station for the purpose
of working the controlling or indicating apparatus which corresponds with that on
the line only on a reduced scale. With this apparatus is also combined a kind of
working model of the switches, whereby the state of the line or the position of
the switches is accurately shown. The piston rods of each pair of cylinders are
connected with the junction bar of the switches by means of a pair of levers
moving on fulcra in the centre of their length.
By this arrangement ou the piston rod of one of the cylinders being impelled in
one direction by the fluid from the prime mover, the pair of levers will both be

page_text: moved and be caused to act on the junction bar of the switches on the opposite
side of their fulcra, and move it in a direction opposite to that of the said piston
rod, while the piston rod of the second cylinder is so connected with its lever, as by
its motion with its piston to force the fluid out of the cylinder and cause it to
return to the central station, thereby entering and working the corresponding
apparatus at this station so as to indicate the position of the switches, and eventually
returning thence to the reservoir or accumulator.
The water or air is supplied to and conveyed from the cylinders by mean sof
three cocks in combination, such cocks being respectively opened and closed as
required by means of a handle and suitable gearing, and caused to direct the water
through pipes suitably arranged.
In case it may be desired to work the switches sometimes by hand, this can be
effected by connecting the two service pipes of the switches by means of a cock or
valve, which when open will allow the water to flow from one pipe to the other,
and when closed will direct the water in the ordinary way from the central station.
When the valve is opened a small plate with the inscription "disconnected" will
be presented on the controlling table by the corresponding switches.
In order to communicate signals and orders from the railway station, a tele-
phonic arrangement of apparatus employed. An iron bar is laid parallel to the
rails, and the necessary metallic contacts are furnished on the one hand by the
wheels of the locomotive engines resting on the rails, and on the other hand by a
metallic brush, a pulley, an iron rod, or the like, extending, downwards from the
locomotive engine to the said iron bar. This iron bar must be properly isolated.
By connecting a telephone with the contact on the engine, and having another in
the central station of the switches, and connecting them with one another through
the medium of the main rails and the iron bar, verbal communication between the
engine driver and the switch man can be carried on. Or the necessary contacts
may be formed by an employé of the railway carrying a telephone, and having
fitted to his feet two metallic plates, and stepping with one foot on the conducting
bar and with the other on the rails. Or the same effect may be produced by means
of a stick with iron plates at the ends, one plate being placed on the bar and the
other on one of the rails. In both cases light metallic wires are connected with
'the soles of the boots or the stick and with the telephone in order to establish the
communication. Instead of the telephones telegraphic apparatus can be used, in
which case electric batteries are placed within the lodge of the switch man.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Max Hahn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th March
1880.
MAX HAHN, of Berlin.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS.FOR WORKING SWITCHES
AND POINTS, TURNING PLATFORMS, AND THE LIKE, AND COMMUNICATING SIGNALS
ON RAILWAYS."
My Invention has for its' object the working of switches and points, turning.
platforms, and the like, by means of apparatus combined into a system, whereof
all the parts being actuated by a central motor or prime mover are caused to move
uniformly and with mechanical certainty, and to indicate at the central station the
exact state of the line by corresponding movements of controlling or indicating,
apparatus. The Invention is designed also to supply the means of verbal com-
munication between the line and the central station.
The apparatus for working switches and points, turning platforms, and the like
consists of a pump to be worked either by manual labour or mechanical power for
supplying water or air under pressure to a reservoir or accumulator, from which
the fluid is taken and employed for working the apparatus.
Or water under pressure may be supplied from a head with a suitable fall as.
required. The cylinders are arranged in pairs, whereof one cylinder receives the
water or air for working the switches, and the other returns the water or air to
the station for the purpose of working the controlling or indicating apparatus
which corresponds with that on the line only on a reduced scale, the controlling
table bearing on its plate on a reduced scale the copy of the rails on the line, to-
the switches of which the working controlling cylinders are adapted. With this
apparatus is also combined a kind of working model of the switches, whereby the
state of the line or the position of the switches thereon is accurately shewn.
The piston rods of each pair of cylinders are connected with the junction bar of
the switches by means of a pair of levers moving on fulcra in the centre of their'
length.
By this arrangement on the piston rod of one of the cylinders being impelled in..
one direction by the fluid from the prime mover, the switch will be moved one
way, and by means of the junction bar the same movement is imparted to the.
levers of the other cylinder, in consequence of which the water contained in the
said second cylinder will be forced out towards the central station, thereby entering
and working the corresponding apparatus at this station, so as to indicate the
position of the switches and eventually returning thence to the reservoir.
The water, or air is supplied to or conveyed from the cylinders by means of four
cocks in combination, such cocks being respectively opened and closed as required
by means of a handle and suitable gearing, and caused to direct the water through.
pipes suitably arranged.
In case it may be desired to work the switches sometimes by hand, this can be
effected by connecting the two service pipes of the switches by means of a cock or
valve, which when open will allow the water to flow from one pipe to the other,
and when closed will direct the water in the ordinary way from the central
station.
When the valve is opened a small plate with the inscription "discon-
nected" will be presented on the controlling table by the corresponding switches.
In order to communicate signals and orders telephones are to be employed, an
iron bar being laid parallel to the rails, and the necessary metallic contacts being
furnished on the one hand through the wheels of the locomotive engine on the
rails, and on the other hand by a metallic brush or pulley, an iron rod or the like
extending downwards from the locomotive engine to the said iron bar. This iron
bar must be properly isolated.

page_text: In case it may be desirable to work the switches sometimes by hand, this can be
effected by connecting the two service pipes of the switches by means of a cock or
valve, which when open will allow the water to flow from one pipe to the other,
and when closed will direct the water in the ordinary way from the central
station. When the valve is opened a small plate with the inscription "discon-
nected" will be presented on the controlling table by the corresponding switches.
In order to communicate signals and orders from the railway station, the tele-
phonic arrangement of apparatus hereinbefore described is employed for the
purpose.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim as of my
Invention is,
First. The arrangement of apparatus for working switches and points, turning
platforms, and the like, formed into a system in the manner represented and
described, and combined with corresponding apparatus at the central station for
indicating the exact state of the line, as herein before described.
And, Secondly. The arrangement of apparatus for communicating signals on
railways, as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Max Hahn, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Sixteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand "
eight hundred and eighty.
MAX HAHN. (L.S.)