Improvements in and connected with Locking, Detecting, and Controlling Railway Signal Apparatus.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 21st Aug., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Locking, Detecting, and
Controlling Railway Signal Apparatus.
We JOHN PATRICK O'DONNELL of 2 Great George Street Westminster in the
County of Middlesex Civil Engineer WILLIAM SMITH of 8 Geneva Road Brixton in
the County of Surrey, Engineer, and ILLIUS AUGUSTUS TIMMIS of 2, Great George
Street, Westminster in the County of Middlesex Civil Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has reference to improvements in that form of detecting the action of
the facing switch points and of the facing point lock, by means of return rods.
Hitherto such systems have consisted of either one return rod from the points to the
signal cabin, which is not complete, or a return rod from the points and another from the
plunger, which is expensive; or again by the employment of duplex plungers and
return rods from each plunger to the signal cabin which latter although more expensive
than the former, is yet a more satisfactory method.
We propose with our invention to have only one return detecting rod and to dispense
with the two separate plungers by having only one locking for the two positions of
the switch points by opposite movements.
We provide in the signal cabin two levers the movement of one lever say No. 1
locking the points of a junction for the main and the movement of lever No. 2 locking
the points for the branch, levers No. 1 and No. 2 lock each other.
Immediately underneath these levers we provide a cross bar, one end of which is
connected to lever 1 and the other end connected to lever 2. Lever 1 in working over
gives a push to the cross bar and lever 2 gives a pull. To the middle of the said cross
bar is connected a single rod which runs by the usual crank connections to a special
plunger. The normal position of the said plunger is a middle position, when the switch
points are unbolted. The usual connection from the T crank is made to our special
Duplex Safety Bar."
This bar is of any of the usual section of iron, but rivetted to it at suitable intervals
are double bevel pieces thus W. Arranged on special safety bar chairs which we
prefer, are corresponding bevel blocks thus-A upon which blocks, the bevel pieces
on the bar work. Normally the middle bevel of the bar pieces are resting on the
bevel blocks on the chair. It may if desirable be arranged that a single bevel be
arranged on the bar and a double bevel block piece be formed on the chair.
The actuating connections may be fixed to any convenient portion of the bar.
At the other end of the point plunger, beyond the switch points preferably, (although
it may be fixed before the junction) we connect a rod, which returns to the signal
cabin and there operates a tappet in two opposite directions (according as it is pulled
or pushed).
.
This single return rod, may however instead of operating a tappet, cross the signal
connections in a suitable case at or near the signal cabin, or it may cross the return or
actuating connections of another point plunger or pair of points.
The action of our invention is as follows:-
When the signalman operates point lock lever No. 1 he gives a pull on the cross
bar which communicates a pull to the actuating rod, also a pull to the "Duplex Safety
Bar," and a pull to the plunger locking the switch points for the main.
The plunger also pulls the return rod, which pulls the return interlocking tappet.
thereby releasing in the locking apparatus the main signal lever and locking any
conflicting levers. The action of working point lock lever No. 2 (after of course the
switch points have been changed over for the branch) gives a push all round to the

page_text: safety bar, plunger and return rod, and tappet, thereby releasing the branch signal
lever, and locking all other conflicting levers.
It is obvious that although we have described the action of lever No. 1 as pulling all
through its movement, it can be changed into a push at any point of the connections.
The same remark applies to lever No. 2 that the push movement may at any spot be
changed into a pull movement.
The action of the bar is as follows:-
:~
When lever No. 1 is worked giving a pull, the second left hand bevel of the piece
fixed on the bar slides upwards on the right hand bevel of the block piece on the chair
until it reaches the top of the latter bevel when it falls sliding downwards on the left
hand bevel of the special chair block piece. The return action of lover No. 1 gives
the opposite motion, the middle of the bar piece resting on the chair block piece.
When now lever No. 2 is worked giving a push the first right hand bevel of the piece
fixed on the bar slides upwards on the left hand bevel of the block piece fixed on the
chair until it reaches the top of the latter bevel, when it falls sliding downwards on
the right hand bevel of the special chair block picce.
It is obvious that our double motion safety bar may be applied to any purposes for
which safety bars are now applied in railway signalling.
Our point plunger may be applied to lock a divided stretcher lar and it can be
arranged that the holes for the said stretcher bar, for branch and main be of different
shapes, so that the plunger being pulled to lock for the main, it cannot enter the
branch hole and vice-versa.
Dated th
1000
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
2, Great George Street, Westminster, S.W., Agent for the said Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Locking, Detecting, and
Controlling Railway Signal Apparatus.
:
We JOHN PATRICK O'DONNELL of 2 Great George Street Westminster in the
County of Middlesex Civil Engineer, WILLIAM SMITH of 8 Geneva Road Brixton in
the County of Surrey Engineer and ILLIUS AUGUSTUS TIMMIS of 2 Great George
Street Westminster in the County of Middlesex, Civil 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:-
Our invention has reference to improvements in that form of detecting the action of
the facing switch points and of the facing point lock by means of return rods.
Hitherto such systeins have consisted of either one return rod from the points to the
signal cabin, which is not complete, or a return rod from the points and another from
the plunger which is expensive or again by the employment of duplex plungers and
return rods from each plunger to the signal cabin, which latter, although more
expensive than the former, is yet a more satisfactory method.
We propose with our invention to have only one return detecting rod and to dispense
with the two separate plungers by having only one locking bar or plunger for the two
positions of the switch points and we effect it by opposite movements.
We provide
in the signal cabin two levers, the movement of one lever say No. 1 locks the facing
points of a junction for the main and the movement of the lever say No. 2 locks the
facing points for the branch. Levers numbers 1 and 2 lock each other. Immediately
underneath these levers we provide a cross bar or sway beam one end of which is con-
nected to lever No. 1 and the other end connected to lever No. 2. Lever No. 1 in
working over gives a push to the cross bar and lever No. 2 gives a pull.
middle of the said cross bar is connected a single rod which runs by the usual crank
connections to a special plunger fixed at the switch points which locks the stretcher
bar thereof. The normal position of the said plunger is a middle position when the
switch points are unbolted (it is of course understood that to suit special requirements
To the

page_text: of certain lines which desire that their points should be normally locked the normal
position then of our plunger would be in the locked position and the movement of
working the lever from the normal to the worked position would work the plunger to
the unlocked position). For the purposes of this invention however we are assuming
that the points are normally unlocked. The usual connection from the T crank is
made to our special "Duplex Safety Bar."
-
This bar is of any of the usual sections of iron, but riveted to it at suitable intervals,
are double bevel pieces. Arranged on special safety bar chairs which we prefer are
corresponding bevel blocks, upon which blocks the bevel pieces on the bar, work.
Normally the middle bevels of the bar blocks are resting on the bevels of the blocks
on the chairs. The actuating connection may be fixed to any convenient portion of
the bar. At the other end of the point plunger, beyond the switch points preferably
(although it may be fixed before the junction) we connect a rod which returns to the
signal cabin and there operates a tappet in opposite directions according as it is pulled
or pushed. This single return rod may however instead of operating a tappet, cross
the signal connections in a suitable case at or near the signal cabin, or it may cross
the return or actuating connection of the point plunger or pair of points or both. It
is obvious that if desirable a single bevel block may be arranged and fixed on the bar and.
a double bevel block be formed on the chair. As an alternative plan and for the purposes
of easing friction where desirable friction rollers may be fixed either on the lower end
of the bevel blocks on the bar so as to work on the bevels of the block on the chair or
a friction roller may be fixed in the block upon the chair.
The action of our invention is as follows:-
When the signalman operates point lock lever No. 1 he gives a pull to the cross bar
or sway beam, which communicates a pull to the actuating rod, a push to the "Duplex
Safety Bar," and a pull to the plunger locking the switch points for the main. The
plunger also pulls the return rod which in its turn pulls the return interlocking tappet
thereby releasing in the interlocking apparatus the main signal lever and locking any
of the other conflicting levers. If the return rod crossed the signal connections on
the ground as hereinbefore referred to, the action of working after replacing lever No. 1
and then working lever No. 2 (the switch points in the meantime having been changed
over for the branch) would give a push to the actuating rod, a pull to the duplex safety
bar, and a push to the plunger, the return rod and the tappet, thereby releasing the
branch signal lever and locking any other conflicting levers in the locking apparatus.
Although we have described the action of lever No. 1 as pulling, it can be changed of
course, into a push at any point of the connections.
The same remark applies to lever No. 2 and a push movement may at any spot be
changed into a pull movement.
The action of the bar is as follows:
When lever No. 1 is worked the pull movement is communicated to the actuating
rod and as shown in the drawings the right hand bevel of the left hand block on the
safety bar, Figure 2, slides upward on the left hand bevel of the block on the safety
bar chair until it reaches its highest position in working, when it falls over, the
left hand bevel on the bar block resting on the right hand bevel of the block on
the chair. The plunger by the action of the actuating rod is also moved to lock
the points for the main line and in this action the return rod is also actuated, the
movement being practically a continuous one from the signal box back to the signal
box, with one rod. The return movement of lever No. 1 gives an opposite
inovement to that previously described, the middle bevels on the bar resting on
the chair block. When now lever No. 2 is worked giving a push to the left hand
bevel of the second or right hand block on the bar (Figure 2) it slides upward on
the right hand bevel of the block on the chair, when the bar reaching its highest
movement falls again on the left hand side, the right hand bevel of the right hand
block on the bar resting on the left hand bevel of the block on the chair; the plunger
in this case is also actuated with a push movement and with it the return rod, the
result being that the stop signal for the branch is thereby released and any of the
necessary conflicting levers locked, or the signal connections themselves may be

page_text: released and locked as previously described. It is obvious that our double safety bar
may be applied to any apparatus for which safety bars are now applied in railway
signalling. Our point plunger may be applied to locking a divided stretcher bar and
it can be arranged that the holes for the stretcher bar for branch and main be of
different shapes so that the plunger being pulled to lock for the main it could not
enter the branch hole and vice versa.
In order that our said invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect we 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 is a plan of the facing points showing the plunger E crank and return
connections F and the sway beam or cross bar A³ attached to the two levers 1 & 2.
Figure 2 is a side view partly in section showing the bevels in the normal
position.
Figure 3 is a side view partly in section showing the bar at its highest position.
Figure 4 shows the position of the bevels when lever No. 1 has been worked
completely over.
Figure 5 shows the position of the bevels when lever No. 2 has been worked
completely over.
Figure 6 shows one of the bevels of the blocks on the bar with the friction roller
inserted.
Figure 7 is a side view partly in section of Figure 6 showing the friction roller.
Figure 8 is an underneath view of Figure 6.
Figure 9 shows the centre portion of the stretcher bar with the slot therein
illustrating one method of locking the points by the plunger as illustrated in
Figure 10.
Figure 10 shows a differential plunger with the two blocks above and below so that
with a pull or a push as the case may be the upper or lower blocks enter the enlarged
ends of the slot shown in Figure 9.
Figure 11 illustrates a side view partly in section of another form of plunger
and box.
Figure 12 is a plan on top of Figure 11 but with the plunger box complete.
Figure 13 illustrates a portion of the stretcher bar suitable for-the plunger-shown
in Figures 11 and 12, in the said stretcher notches at the top and bottom are provided
for the enlarged higher or lower ends of the said plunger in Figure 11.
A is the connecting rod-attached to the centre of the cross bar A3 under the-tails of
levers Nos. 1 and 2; A¹, A2 are the short connections from the levers 1 & 2 to the
sway beam or cross bar A³; B is the short rod connecting the T crank to the stud
plate upon the bar G; C is the rod connecting the other end of the T crank to the
plunger E; D is the T crank; F is the return rod attached to the other end of the
plunger E the said rod F returning to the signal box and doing the necessary
interlocking either there or on the ground in connection with the facing signals; His
the left-hand block fixed to the lock bar and His the left hand bevel and H2-is-the
right hand bevel on the said block; J is the right hand block fixed to the bar; J is
the left hand bevel and J2 is the right hand bevel on the said block J; K is the block
on the chair; K' is the left hand bevel and K the right hand bevel on the said
block K; L, Figures 6, 7 & 8 is the friction roller fixed in the block H; M Figure 9
is the middle portion of the stretcher bar showing the slot M³ enlarged at each end
into the gaps M' and M².
As the stretcher bar M Figure 9 is moved over by the signalman (in the act of
moving the points) and the plunger E Figure 10 is a fixture, the slot M³ would move
about the thin or middle portion of the said plunger, but when the points are home
and it is desired to plunge the points a pull on the rod O would place the thickened
part N Figure 10 into the enlarged notch M Figure 9 and in the case of a push the
thickened portion N2 Figure 10 would enter the enlarged notch M2 Figure 9, O is the
alternate form of plunger shown in Figure 11; in this figure the return rod connection
would be attached to the end 03 and a pull would place the thickened end of the
plunger O through the notch P (Figure 13) of the stretcher bar P and a push would
0

page_text: place the thickened portion 03 through the notch P¹ (Figure 13) of the stretcher
bar P.
As the method of releasing by tappets actuated by return rods in the signal box and
again as detecting by return rods actuated by the points and by the plunger crossing
the connections of other pairs of points and plungers or crossing the connections of
facing or other signals is fully set forth in the Specification of Letters Patent granted
to O'Donnell and Stevens No. 13002 of September the 8th, 1888, it will not be
necessary to repeat the methods set forth in that Specification; it will be sufficient to
say that the connections beyond the plunger will be on that principle although with
the present invention we do with one rod but with two movements upon it what is set
forth in the above referred to Specification as effected by two rods. It will be readily
understood that in lieu of special safety bar chairs, cast brackets may be provided
with bevel block so that the bevel blocks in the brackets operate in the same manner
on these blocks on the chairs as previously described. A bracket of similar description
for similar apparatus is described in the Specification of O'Donnell, Smith and Timmis
No. 17245 of 1889.
Although we have in the hereinbefore described Specification referred in detail to
the actuating rod from the signal box which operates our duplex safety bar, as being
pushed and pulled according as one or other of two levers is worked in the signal box
yet the said rod may be actuated solely by one lever the said lever being normally in a
middle position working from the middle position to the back position so pulling the
rod and locking the points for the main, and again working the same lever from the
middle position to the forward position and so pushing the rod and locking the points
for the branch; it will be understood of course that if one lever working to two
positions is provided the cross bar or sway beam and double connections thereto will
be abolished, so that only one connection will be required from the tail of the said
lever working by the plunger through the stretcher bar of the switch points back to
the signal hox or the desired position for interlocking the signals.
Although we have herein before described the friction roller as being inserted in the
lower end of the bevel block yet other means may be devised for the purposes of
fixing the roller to the bar where the roller is used as a means for operating the bar,
we do not bind ourselves to fixing it in the said block as the essence of this part of
our invention consists in the roller and not in its fixing to the bar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1 In railway signalling apparatus a double action safety bar working from a
norinal middle position to the right as one distinct operation and again from the
normal position to the left as a second distinct operation, by one rod, substantially in
the manner and for the purposes herein set forth.
2-The combination of apparatus in Figures 1 to 11 of the drawings inclusive,
substantially as described and for the purposes herein set forth.
3: In railway signalling apparatus the combination of two levers to work one bar
by one rod so that opposite movements are given to the plunger, substantially in the
inanner described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4 In railway signalling apparatus the application of a special safety bar chair to
work in connection with the double action lock bar substantially as described.
5-In safety bars for railway signalling apparatus the application of blocks or
rollers (separate or together) for working in conjunction with special blocks fixed on
the chairs supporting the rails or on separate blocks formed in brackets, substantially
in the manner herein set forth and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Do tad this 01st dor of Avant 1800
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
Agent for the said Applicants