Im- PROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR SECURING THE PRO SECURING THE SAFE WORKING OF RAILWAY POINTS AND SIGNALS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Stinson Farmer, of Canterbury Road,
Kilburn, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR SECURING THE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Stinson Farmer at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 17th October 1874.
I, JOHN STINSON FARMER, of Canterbury Road, Kilburn, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR SECURING THE
SAFE WORKING OF RAILWAY POINTS AND SIGNALS," to be as follows:-
The points of railways are sometimes provided with means of bolting
them in the one position or the other by shooting a bolt into a hole in
the tie rod connecting the two switch rails, or by inserting wedge pieces
between the switch rails and their chairs, such bolts or wedge pieces

page_text: being moved by a special lever provided in the signal box among the
other levers with which it is usually interlocked. Sometimes also the
points or their bolting gear is connected to a switch lock or bar mounted
by the side of the rail, by which they are rendered immoveable while a
train is passing.
Apparatus such as are above referred to for securing the points are
described in the Specifications of Patents granted to Livesey, Edwards,
and Jeffreys, on the 27th February 1867, No. 547, and to J. Saxby and
me the said J. S. Farmer, on the 25th February 1870, No. 569.
In the Specification of a Patent granted to R. C. Rapier, on the 26th
March 1874, No. 1064, are described means whereby one bolt or one
part of a bolt can be shot when the points are in the one position, and
another bolt or part of a bolt can be shot when the points are in the
other position, the bolting lever being for this purpose moved in one
direction in the one case, and in the opposite direction in the other
case.
My Invention relates to a mode of rendering the action of the bolting
lever dependent on the position of the working lever of the points, and
of rebating the action of the switch lock when such a lock is employed
to that of the point bolts, so as to provide for the safe working of the
points in conjunction with the signals as I will now explain.
The bolting lever having according to my arrangement always the
same direction of movement for bolting the points which ever way they
may be set, and the reverse movement for unbolting them, its bolting
movement operates as a test of the efficiency of the point lever in moving
the points, shewing when it is obstructed, that the points through a
failure of the connections to them have not moved, or have only partially
moved in obedience to the point lever, and the bolting lever being inter-
locked with the signal levers, the obstruction to the movement of the
former prevents the giving of a signal contradictory to the actual position
of the points. And farthermore, when a switch lock is used in com-
bination with the bolting apparatus, the bar of the switch lock
according to my arrangement when such a bar is employed remains
clear of passing trains both when the points are bolted, and also when
they are unbolted, but the act of unbolting the points being always
accompanied by the movement of the switch lock, the unbolting is
rendered impossible while a train is passing the switch lock. For the
purpose of attaining these objects I place the lever for bolting the points

page_text: preferably next in the frame to the lever for moving them, and I so
arrange the connection from the bolting lever to the rods by which its
movement is communicated to the bolt at the points, and so connect the
point lever to these rods that when the point lever stands in one attitude,
as for example, in the position which should set the points right for the
main line, the movement of the bolting lever causes its rods to be pulled,
but when the point lever stands in its other attitude, as for setting the
points right for the branch line, the same movement of the bolting lever
causes its rods to be pushed. This may be effected in various ways, as
for example, by making one of the rods worked by the bolting lever with
a pin sliding in a curved slot extending on both sides of the fulcrum of
a lever, and connecting this rod to the point lever in such manner that
when the point lever is in the one attitude the sliding pin is on the one
side of the fulcrum, and when the point lever is moved to its other
attitude the pin is slid to the opposite side of the fulcrum. Or the rod
of the bolting lever may be made to work the one or the other of two
rods, each made with a gab, one of which in one position of the point
lever engages with a pin on the one side of the fulcrum of a lever, and
the other of which in the other position of the point lever engages with
a pin on the opposite side of the fulcrum. Or the bolting lever may be
connected to a duplicate bell crank provided with a clutch moved by tho
point lever, so that in one position of the point lever one arm of the bell
crank is made to operate on the bolting rods, and in the other position
of the point lever the opposite arm is made to operate. The bolting rods
extending from the bolting lever to the bolt at the points being thus
made to move in the one direction when the points are or should be in
the one attitude, and to move in the opposite direction when the points
are or should be in the other attitude, are connected to a slide fitted to
cross the rod of the two switch rails. On this slide are fixed two bolts or
plungers directed opposite ways, one on each side of the tie rod, and
holes are provided in the tie rod into which the one or the other of these
plungers can be inserted when the points are home in the one direction
or the other, but the two plungers and their respective holes are so
placed that neither plunger can be inserted into the hole appropriated to
the other.
In the middle position of the bolt slide corresponding to one position.

page_text: the point lever to the one attitude, then the movement of the bolting
lever by pulling its rods causes one of the plungers to be inserted into
its hole in the tie rod, so as to lock the points. And when again the
points have been shifted to their other attitude, the same movement of
the bolting lever having in that case the effect of pushing its rods causes
the other plunger to be inserted. Should the movement of the point
lever fail to shift the points or to shift them sufficiently far, then the
proper plunger being unable to enter the hole in the tie bar, the move-
ment of the bolting lever will be obstructed, and such obstruction will
serve as an indication of failure in the connections from the point lever 1
to the points. And farther, when the bolting lever is interlocked with
the signal levers, the obstruction to the movement of the former will
prevent the giving of a signal in contradiction to the actual position of
the points.
In cases where a switch lock is employed consisting of a bar mounted 1
by the rail to move on radii like the blade of a parallel ruler, as
described in the Specifications first referred to above, I connect by a
toggle joint one of its radii to the bolt slide, or to one of the bolting rods
worked as above described in such manner that when the bolt slide is in
its middle position leaving the points free the toggle joint is then in its 2
middle or straight attitude, and the switch lock is at the extreme of its
stroke in one direction clear of the wheels of passing trains, and when
the bolting slide is moved in either direction so as to insert the one or
the other of the plungers into the tie rod, the toggle joint being thereby
moved to the one side or the other of its middle position, moves the 2
switch lock to the other extreme of its stroke, where also it is clear of
the wheels of passing trains, the points being then bolted. And farther,
as the movement of the bolting lever for withdrawing either bolt from
the tie rod is communicated through the toggle joint to the switch lock,
such movement cannot be performed while any wheel is passing over 8
the latter, and thus the points are kept locked during the passage of a
trains.
Instead of connecting the bar of the switch lock by a toggle joint to
the bolting gear, it may be connected thereto directly, providing it with
a set of duplicate slotted radii crossing each other, so that when the bar a
is moved in either direction it works on one set of the radii, the slots
of the other radii allowing them to slide on their pivots.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Stinson Farmer in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th April 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
STINSON FARMER, of Canterbury Road, Kilburn, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John Stinson Farmer, Her
special license that I, the said John Stinson Farmer, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Stinson
Farmer, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time.
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING THE SAFE WORKING
OP RAILWAY POINTS AND SIGNALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said John Stinson Farmer, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Stinson Farmer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thercof, reference being had to the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say :—
The points of railways are sometimes provided with means of bolting

page_text: the tie rod connecting the two switch rails, or by inserting wedge
pieces between the switch rails and their chairs, such bolts or wedge
pieces being moved by a special lever provided in the signal box among
the other levers with which it is usually interlocked. Sometimes also
the points or their bolting gear is connected to a switch lock or bar 5
mounted by the side of the rail, by which they are rendered immoveable
while a train is passing.
Apparatus such as are above referred to for securing the points are
described in the Specifications of Patents granted to Livesey, Edwards,
and Jeffreys, on the 27th February, 1867, No. 547, and to J. Saxby 10
and me, the said J. S. Farmer, on the 25th February, 1870, No. 569.
In the Specification of a Patent granted to R. C. Rapier on the
26th March 1874, No. 1064, are described means whereby one bolt or
one part of a bolt can be shot when the points are in the one position,
and another bolt or part of a bolt can be shot when the points are in 18
the other position, the bolting lever being for this purpose moved in one
direction in the one case and in the opposite direction in the other
case.
My Invention relates to a mode of rendering the action of the bolting
lever dependent on the position of the working lever of the points, and 20
of relating the action of the switch lock when such a lock is employed
to that of the point bolts, so as to provide for the safe working of the
points in conjunction with the signals, as I will now explain.
The bolting lever having according to my arrangement always the
same direction of movement for bolting the points whichever way they 25
may be set, and the reverse movement for unbolting them, its bolting
movement operates as a test of the efficiency of the point lever in
moving the points, shewing when it is obstructed that the points
through a failure of the connections to them have not moved, or have
only partially moved in obedience to the point lever, and the bolting 30
lever being interlocked with the signal levers the obstruction to the
movement of the former prevents the giving of a signal contradictory to
the actual position of the points. And furthermore, when a switch
lock is used in combination with the bolting apparatus the bar of the
switch lock, according to my arrangement, when such a bar is employed, 35
remains clear of passing trains, both when the points are bolted, and

page_text: also when they are unbolted, but the act of unbolting the points being
always accompanied by the movement of the switch lock the unbolting
is rendered impossible while a train is passing the switch lock. For the
purpose of attaining these objects I place the lever for bolting the points
preferably next in the frame to the lever for moving them, and I so
arrange the connection from the bolting lever to the rods by which its
movement is communicated to the bolt at the points, and so connect the
point lever to these rods that when the point lever stands in one attitude,
as for example, in the position which should set the points right for the
main line, the movement of the bolting lever causes its rods to be pulled,
but when the point lever stands in its other attitude, as for setting the
points right for the branch line, the same movement of the bolting lever
causes its rods to be pushed. This may be effected in various ways, as
for example, by making one of the rods worked by the bolting lever
with a pin sliding in a curved slot extending on both sides of the
fulcrum of a lever, and connecting this rod to the point lever in such
manner that when the point lever is in the one attitude the sliding pin
is on the one side of the fulcrum, and when the point lever is moved
to its other attitude the pin is slid to the opposite side of the fulcrum.
Or the rod of the bolting lever may be made to work the one or the
other of two rods, each made with a gab, one of which in one position
of the point lever engages with a pin on the one side of the fulcrum of
a lever, and the other of which in the other position of the point lever
engages with a pin on the opposite side of the fulcrum. Or the bolting
lever may be connected to a duplicate bell crank provided with a clutch
moved by the point lever, so that in one position of the point lever one
arm of the bell crank is made to operate on the bolting rods, and in the
other position of the point lever the opposite arm is made to operate,
the bolting rods extending from the bolting lever to the bolt at the
points being thus made to move in the one direction when the points
arc, or should be, in the one attitude, and to move in the opposite
direction when the points are, or should be, in the other attitude, are
connected to a slide fitted to cross the rod of the two switch rails. On
this slide are fixed two bolts or plungers directed opposite ways, one on
each side of the tic rod, and holes are provided in the tie rod, into which
the one or the other of these plungers can be inserted when the points
are home in the one direction or the other, but the two plungers and
their respective holes are so placed that neither plunger can be inserted
into the hole appropriated to the other.

page_text: In the middle position of the bolt slide corresponding to one position
of the bolting lever, neither plunger being inserted into its holes, the
points are free to be moved. But when the points have been shifted by
the point lever to the one attitude then the movement of the bolting lever
by pulling its rods causes one of the plungers to be inserted into its hole
in the tie rod so as to lock the points. And when again the points have
been shifted to their other attitude the same movement of the bolting
lever having in that case the effect of pushing its rods causes the other
plunger to be inserted. Should the movement of the point lever fail to
shift the points, or to shift them sufficiently far, then the proper
plunger being unable to enter the hole in the tie bar the movement of
the bolting lever will be obstructed, and such obstruction will serve as
an indication of failure in the connections from the point lever to the
points. And farther, when the bolting lever is interlocked with the
signal levers the obstruction to the movement of the former will prevent
the giving of a signal in contradiction to the actual position of the

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a side view of a point lever A and a switch bolting
lever B set side by side with means, according to my Invention, of
making the one movement of the lever B in the direction of the arrow
effect the bolting of the points, whether by a push or a pull of the rods
worked by it, according as the lever A is in the position shewn in Fig. 1,
or in the position indicated by the dotted line a. For this purpose the
lever A. is extended below its fulcrum, and its lower end is provided with
a pin entering a slot in a rod O. The upper end of this rod has a pin,
which enters a curved slot B', B³, formed in a piece attached to the
lever B, and its lower end is connected to a bell crank D, which by
means of rods E is connected to the switch bolting apparatus that will
be hereafter described. When the lever A is in the position shewn
(which position it may be understood is that corresponding to the points
being set for the main line), then on pulling over the lever B the rod C
will be pushed downwards, as indicated by the arrow, and the switch
bolt connected to D will be moved by a push of the connecting rods E.
When on the other hand the lever A. has been moved over to the
position a (thus having shifted the points from the main line to the
branch) its lower end A' will have caused the rod C to sweep towards
the left, thereby bringing it to the position (dotted) c with its upper end
at the end B of the slot. On now pulling over the bolting lever B in
the same direction as before the rod c will be drawn up, and the bell
crank D will be made to act by a pull of the rods E connecting it to the
bolting apparatus.
Fig. 2 represents a side view of a modified form of this apparatus.
In this case the point lever A is linked to two rods C¹, C³, which are
both ininted to the hell crank D and have anhs near their unner ends.

page_text: moved over to the left, the gab of C¹ would be engaged with B¹, and
the action of the lever B on the bell crank D and rods E would bo
reversed.
It is obvious that instead of arranging the reversing gear shewn in
Figs. 1 and 2 immediately at the levers themselves, gear of the like 5
description might be arranged in other positions, the point lever A being
connected to a rod O or to rods C³, O³, in any convenient manner, so as
to determine by its position the movement of the bolting rods E to be
as a push or a pull.
1
Fig. 3 represents a side view of another modification of this apparatus, 1
Fig. 4 being a front view of the lower part, and Figs. 5 and 6 shewing
to a larger scale details which I will presently explain. In this case
the point lever A coming in front of the bolting lever B hides the latter,
except its bell crank end, which is connected by a rod C to two lever
arms D¹ and D³. At the side of each of those arms is another arm ď³, d³,
respectively, each pair being mounted on pins a', a³, and the arms d², d³,
being both jointed to the rod E connecting to the bolting apparatus.
The two pins a³, a³, are fitted to slide in sockets, and are swivelled to
opposite arms of a lever A' worked by a rod A' from the point lever A.
The pin a¹ swivelled to the upper arm of A³, and passing through the 2
bosses of D' and d', is shewn in the longitudinal section, Fig. 5, and a
transverse section of the pin a' and boss d is shown in Fig. 6.
From the latter Fig. it will be seen that on the pin a¹ there is a
clutch projection a³, which enters a notch in the interior of the boss of
D³, and also of a when the pin a' is in the position shewn in Fig. 5, 2
thereby clutching together the two arms D¹ and d', but if the pin a¹ be
drawn towards the right then the projection a³ will be drawn out of the
notch in D', and the arm D' will then be unclutched from d', and can be
moved independently thereof.
It is to be understood that the lower pin a' is fitted in like manner 30
with respect to the arms D² and d².
Now as the longitudinal position of the pins a¹, a³, depends on the
position of the point lever A, the one being drawn out, and the other
pushed in, according as that lever is pulled the one way or the other,
the clutching of D¹ to d³, or of D³ to d is thereby made to depend on 8
the position of A, and thus if, for example, D¹ and d are clutched

page_text: together, while D³ and d² are disengaged, the pulling up of the rod O
will, through D¹ and d acting for the time as a solid bell crank pull the
rod E, but if by moving the lever A, and consequently moving A³, and
the pins a¹, a², the arms D' and d¹ become unclutched, while D² and dª
become clutched, then the pulling up of the rod C, the same action as
before will now acting through D' and d³ push the rod E.
Fig. 7 represents a plan, and Fig. 8 a longitudinal section of part
of a line of railway in close proximity to a pair of points P, P, with the
bolting apparatus for these points arranged to operate according to my
Invention, in conjunction with any form of the apparatus which I have
already described in reference to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, and with a
switch locking bar S such as is described in the Specifications above
referred to, mounted by the side of one rail on radii R, R, as more
clearly shown to an enlarged scale in the part side view, Fig. 9, and
section, Fig. 10. The rod E (Fig. 7) is supposed to be the distant
termination of the rod E in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, which, as already described,
is pulled or pushed by one and the same movement of the bolting
lever B, according as determined by the attitude of the point lever A.
This rod E is by a bell crank E¹ and rod E' connected to one limb T
of a toggle joint. This limb is the one arm of a bell crank, the other
arm of which is connected by a rod T" to a sliding bolt F, an end view
of which is shewn at Fig. 11, and a plan to an enlarged scale at
Fig. 11. This bolt is fitted to slide across a bar P¹ which connects the
pair of points P, P, through which bar are cut two holes of different
shapes or at different levels fitting respectively two projecting ribs
f, f, on the sliding bolt F. In the Fig. these projecting ribs are
shewn to form with the slide F bolts of T shape, one being in an
inverted position in relation to the other; one of the holes, as p¹
(Fig. 11) is fitted to receive the rib f¹, the other hole being inverted
to receive f. The distance of these holes apart is equal to the throw
of the points, so that when the points are home on the one side, as
shewn in Fig. 7, to make the road good, say, for the main line, then
by a push of the rod E, and consequently of the rod T", the rib f will
be thrust into its hole p³ in the bar P¹, but a pull of the rod E could
not draw the rib f¹ into the hole p¹ because the hole does not fit it.
Again, if the points were moved over to the other side then the hole p
would be moved away from facing ƒ³, but the other hole p¹ would be
brought to face f¹. In that case a pull of the rod E would draw the

page_text: rib f¹ into the hole p¹, but a push of the rod E could not thrust ƒ³ into
that hole which it does not fit. Now as the position of the points P, P,
is determined by means of the point lever A, and as the movement of
the rod E whether to pull or to push is determined by the same lever A
by the means already explained, the following consequences flow from
the connections which I have described:-If the points be not home
to either side the bolt F cannot be shot in either direction because
neither of its ribs will find its hole in the bar P' facing it, consequently
the bolting lever B will be obstructed, and the operator will know that
the points are not home. Again, if the pointsman intended to shift the
points, but owing to some yield or severance of the connections failed to
do so, then having moved his point lever for this purpose he would
have so altered the action of the rod E from a pull to a push, or vice
versa, that he would be unable to move the bolt F, the wrong hole
being presented to one of its ribs. Thus, by the obstruction to his
bolting lever he would be apprised that the points had not obeyed him.
When however the points completely obey the point lever the operator
can then by the same movement of the bolting lever shoot the one or
the other of the bolts f¹ or f³, and so hold the points firm, preventing
them from being moved until they are unbolted. And it is readily seen
that by interlocking the bolting lever with the other point and signal
levers of the system the unbolting of the points may be made to depend
upon the proper condition of all or any of the other levers of the system.
The second limb T of the toggle joint (Fig. 7) is connected by a
lever Ts with the switch locking bar S¹ which, as explained in the
Specifications above referred to, is for the purpose of keeping the points
from being moved during the passage of a train. When the toggle
joint is in its middle, or in either of its extreme positions (indicated by
the dotted lines in Fig. 7) the bar S is in its extreme position to right
or to left, but the movement of the rod E, whether it is pushed or pulled
by moving the toggle joint T, T, from one or other of those positions,
has the effect of pulling the bar S over from the one extreme to the
other, causing it to rise in its traverse as determined by its radii R.
If then while any wheel of a train is passing over the bar S it were
attempted to unbolt the points by either the push or the pull of the
rod E, as the toggle joint would in obedience to such movement have
to pass from its extreme to its middle position, and so would have to
raise the bar 8, the flange of the passing wheel preventing S from rising
would effectually obstruct the movement, and so prevent the points from

page_text: being unbolted. At the same time while the bolts on F are both with-
drawn the points can be moved, the bar S remaining down.
Fig. 12 represents a plan, and Fig. 13 a longitudinal section of part
of a railway at a pair of points with connections acting in the same
manner on the switch bolt and locking bar, but in a somewhat modified
form, Figs. 14 and 15 shewing to an enlarged scale side views of the
locking bar and its mountings in one of its extreme positions and in its
middle position respectively, and Fig. 16 being a section through the
rail and bar. In this case while the bolting of the points is effected in
the manner already described, the toggle joint connection to the locking
bar is dispensed with by providing the said bar S with a duplicate set of
radii R with slotted holes, as shewn in Figs. 14 and 15, and connecting
it directly to an arm T of the lever T. The slots in the radii R per-
mitting the bar to travel in either direction from its middle position,
either the push or the pull of the rod E will cause it to rise in its traverse
on one or other of its sets of radii, and when this rise is prevented by the
flange of a passing wheel the unbolting of the points is consequently
prevented.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that I make no
general claim to the bolting of railway points, nor to the use of a switch
lock bar for preventing them from being shifted during the passage of a
train over it, nor do I claim for bolting points the use of duplicate bolts,
each fitting a particular hole or notch in a cross bar attached to the
points; but I claim,-
First. Connecting the lever which works a pair of railway points to
the rods or connections worked by the lever which bolts these points
in such manner that the one movement of the latter lever shall be made
to act on the bolting apparatus by a push or by a pull of its rods,
according to the position of the point lever, substantially in the manner
and for the purposes herein set forth.
Second. The combination of apparatus operating in the manner
described in the preceding claim, with a switch lock bar in such
manner that when the movement of the said bar is prevented by the
wheel of a passing train, the rod from the bolting lever, whether it be
subjected to a push or to a pull, is also prevented from moving, and

page_text: thus the unbolting of the points is likewise prevented, substantially as
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Stinson Farmer, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy- ||
five.