Improvements in Railway Signalling Apparatus.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 1st July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 28th July, 1891-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Signalling Apparatus.
1, EDWARD RUSSELL of 12 Culverland Road, Exeter, in the County of
Devonshire, Signal Superintendent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to improvements primarily in connection with signals
that refer to movements through cross-over roads or in and out of sidings or for all
movements generally that are not through movements on passenger lines. My
invention is applicable to either discs that are counterbalanced or not counter-
balanced and to dises that work in a vertical line and whose bases or bodies are
stationary, or to ground signals that revolve. The object of the invention is rather
in connection with the result, that is to say that although it is designed for
movements that are not generally passenger movements yet it occasionally happens
that a semaphore signal is used instead of a ground disc for shunting operations. <
My invention of course in this case is as suitable to asemaphore post as to a ground
disc of any form.
The essence of my invention consists that as all discs or signals generally (except
sectional signals) refer to a particular pair of points in connection with such disc
there be placed a co-acting or slotting apparatus which will ensure that although.
the disc may be nominally worked by an independent lever in the cabin to which
the disc refers, yet the disc being operated through a co-acting or slotting
apparatus, when the lever in the signal box is pulled over to the worked position,.
the disc will not be worked or revolved unless the points to which the disc refers.
have also been operated to their fullest extent. One lever of the co-acting
apparatus is attached to the lever in the interlocking apparatus which is set apart
for the purpose of operating the disc, and the second lever of the co-acting.
apparatus is attached by a suitable connection to the switch points to which it
refers.
It is obvious that with this provision both the points must be worked over and
the lever itself in the signal cabin set apart for operating the disc must be also
worked before the disc itself can be given all clear."
The particular form of co-acting apparatus which I employ for this purpose is..
that which is fully set forth in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me
under date September 27th 1886 and numbered 12257. It consists of an iron plate
which carries in position two or more large weighted bars. Midway between or
outside these bars is fixed one or more smaller bars as is desirable, for the purpose.
of illustration only one of these smaller bars. The said smaller bar is connected
direct to and works the disc or arm as is desirable, that is required to be co-acted
or slotted. The bars large and small are carried on a spindle or common centre
and in the normal position of the bars there is a space between the outside larger
bars and the inside smaller bar.
The action of this portion of the apparatus is as follows:-
When the signalman operates his point lever and the points are operated, through
the connection from the points to the weighted bar of the co-acting apparatus he
communicates an upward motion to the said bar and he also communicates a side
motion to the middle bar by means of bevel bosses on the bars. This action fills
up the space between the said bosses but does not communicate a motion to the disc
or arm.
Now when the signalman operates his signal lever he communicates a circular
motion to the other large weighted bar and as all spaces between the bosses is filled
up and the bars thus have formed close connection, he is bound to communicate an

page_text: upward motion to the smaller middle bar which, action deflects the disc or arm or
revolves the disc according to which form, of disc is used, the result being that the
signal is given “all clear on with dises may be fixeil at any suitable position on
My apparatus in connection
the disc itself so long as communication is made, between, the middle smaller arm
and the connection by which the signal is given "all clear." In connection with
the lever or the means by which the signal is deflected, and crossing the said con-
nection or lever at right angles is a prolongation of the stretcher bar or other rod
from the switch points with a suitable notch or notches provided in it so that unless
the points are perfectly home the disc cannot be lowered or revolved even although
the points may be moved a large portion of their movement and the particular
lever in the signal box been moved also. This forms a detector upon the action of
the signal so that unless the points are home the signal cannot be given "all
clear."
An alternative method of doing this would be that a connection from the disc or
arm by means of a crank placed at the bottom of the said disc or signal and a
connection at the lower end of the said crank which latter is fixed vertically,.
should cross the said detecting rod from the switch points and end in a shackle,
this latter being connected direct to the operating lever in the signal box. The
crank itself would be of a T shape, one end of some length, and a link connecting
this said end to the second large lever of the co-acting apparatus: instead therefore
of the signal lever in the signal cabin operating direct on to one of the levers of the
co-acting apparatus as herein before described it would go direct to the lower rod
which is itself connected to the crank, the crank being connected to the signal (disc
or arm). The action would be the same as when the lower rod is moved, as of
course the points should generally be moved first by ordinary interlocking, unless
the signal refers to the position of the points when they are normal, and would act
that after the points had been moved the lever of the co-acting apparatus referring
to the points would be operated, the intermediate small lever forced into gear with.
the second large lever of the slotting apparatus; and when the signalman now
operates the lower rod attached indirectly to the arm as hereinbefore described in
working the link connection to the long T crank, he would operate the second arm
of the co-acting apparatus thereby allowing the signal to be lowered.
The most important feature in this invention is, and it is the same with all
co-acting apparati, that where the points are put back first, where the connection to
the signal may be broken and the signal fail to go to danger, yet when the points are
reversed, acting upon the co-acting apparatus it would force the signal to danger
itself: This would apply also where the detecting rod from the points is not
provided.
It is obvious that although I have described my invention hereinbefore as with
reference to signals that give authority to proceed through a pair of points, the
points themselves having previously to be moved, yet it may very often be
necessary that a signal may be required to be given to a pair of points when the
points themselves lie normally right for the said signal, that is to say that the
points are not required to be operated in order that the signal may be given "all
clear." In this case it is obvious that one arm of the co-acting apparatus is con-
nected to the points and the said arm is supposed to be in its worked position, so
that it is only necessary for the point lever to be worked for the arm to go to
danger. If the points are not home then the signal is locked at danger and the
pulling of the separate lever in the signal box, would fail to operate. it. The
detecting arrangement is also similar in this case.
It may be said that as it is necessary, that the points be perfectly home in the
first application of my invention before the signal can be given, both in reference to
the action of the points upon the lever of the co-acting apparatus to which the said
points are connected, and also in further, reference to, the prolongation of the
stretcher bar and the correlated notch in the said bar and which is necessary to be
opposite the signal before the blade connected to it may be operated by the lever

page_text: in the signal cabin, that as the signal is lowered it backlocks the switch points, the
signal blade crossing the point blade, so that if the signal wire should become
fractured and by any means the signal fail to go to danger, the points themselves
being backlocked the operation could not be effected of replacing the points into
their normal position to actuate the co-acting blade which is connected to the points
to the extent of replacing the signal to danger. To meet this view I arrange
suitably in connection with the base casting of the disc, that the prolongation of
the stretcher bar shall in place of having a square notch upon its upper surface,
have a diagonal slot notch on its lower surface, and one portion of the prolongation
of the stretcher bar is arranged to be thinner than the other and where the
deviation of thicknesses takes place that portion be alsó bevelled. The blade of
the disc which is connected to the lever in the signal box through which the disc is
partly operated may be if desirable in the form of a swan neck bolt. Normally
the thickened portion of the prolongation of the stretcher bar is against the swan
neck bolt preventing its working and thereby holding the signal at danger: When
the points are operated the extension of the stretcher bar is moved so that the slot
previously referred to comes opposite the swan neck bolt and by that action of
course also one lever of the co-acting apparatus is moved. Upon the signal now
being actuated the swan neck bolt passes through the slotted notch in the pro-
longation of the stretcher bar and to some extent holds the points in the desired
position: If, however, by any chance upon the return motion of the signal lever
the wire becomes fractured or hangs up, or in any way prevents the signal from
going to danger, the points are not backlocked, but the signalman upon replacing.
his point lever slides the prolongation of the stretcher bar by means of the bevelled
end; over the swan neck bolt and actuated the lever of the co-acting, apparatus to
which it is connected to the extent that of course as is well known in all perfect
co-acting apparati, the disc or arm will go to danger.
It is obvious that other modifications might be made to obtain this result, that is
to say that although in certain cases it is essential that the points must be moved
to their correct pulled over position before the disc can be operated, yet unlike the
usual ground interlocking apparatus the points which would ordinarily be. back-
locked by the disc may in this case be returned first in the event of any fracture
taking place; and by that action place the disc at danger.
Dated this 1st day of Tile 1801.
EDWARD RUSSELL,
Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Signalling Apparatus.
I, EDWARD RUSSELL of 12 Culverland Road, Exeter in the County of Devon,
Signal Superintendent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be perfornied, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
My invention has reference to improvements primarily in connection with signals
that refer to movements through cross-over roads or in and out of sidings or for all
movements generally that are not through movements on passenger lines.
My
invention is applicable to either discs that are counterbalanced or not counter-
balanced and to discs that work in a vertical line and whose bases, or bodies are
stationary, or to ground signals that revolve. The object of the invention is rather
in connection with the result, that is to say that although it is designed for move-
ments that are not generally passenger movements yet it occasionally happens that
a semaphore signal is used instead of a ground disc for shunting operations. My
invention of course in this case is as suitable to a semaphore post as to a ground
disc of any form..
The essence of my invention consists that as all discs or signals generally (except
-

page_text: sectional signals) refer to a particular pair of points in connection with such disc
there be placed a co-acting or slotting apparatus which will ensure that although
the disc may be nominally worked by an independent lever in the cabin to which
the disc refers, yet the disc being operated through a co-acting or slotting apparatus,
when the lever in the signal box is pulled over to the worked position, the disc will
not be worked or revolved unless the points to which the disc refers have also been
operated to their fullest extent. One lever of the co-acting apparatus is attached
to the lever in the interlocking apparatus which is set apart for the purpose of
operating the disc, and the second lever of the co-acting apparatus is attached by a
suitable connection to the switch points to which it refers.
It is obvious that with this provision both the points must be worked over and
the lever itself in the signal cabin set apart for operating the disc must be also
worked before the disc itself can be given "all clear."
The particular form of co-acting apparatus which I employ for this purpose is that
which is fully set forth in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me under
date September 27th 1886 and numbered 12257. It consists of an iron plate which
carries in position two or more large weighted bars. Midway between or outside
these bars is fixed one or more smaller bars as is desirable, for the purpose of
illustration only one of these smaller bars. The said smaller bar is connected direct
to and works the disc or arm as is desirable, that is required to be co-acted or
slotted.. The bars large and small are carried on a spindle or common centre and
in the normal position of the bars there is a space between the outside larger bars
and the inside smaller bar.
.
The action of this portion of the apparatus is as follows:
When the signalman operates his point lever and the points are operated, through
the connection from the points to the weighted bar of the co-acting apparatus.he
communicates an upward motion to the said bar and he also communicates a side
motion to the middle bar by means of bevel bosses on the bars. This action fills
up the space between the said bosses but does not communicate a motion to the disc
or arm.
Now when the signalman operates his signal lever he communicates a circular
motion to the other large weighted bar and as all spaces between the bosses is filled
up and the bars thus have formed close connection, he is bound to communicate an
upward motion to the smaller middle bar which action deflects the disc or arm or
revolves the disc according to which form of disc is used, the result being that the
signal is given "all clear."
My apparatus in connection with discs may be fixed at any suitable position on
the disc itself. so long as communication is made between the middle smaller arm
and the connection by which the signal is given "all clear." In connection with
the lever or the means by which the signal is deflected, and crossing the said con-
nection or lever at right angles is a prolongation of the stretcher bar or other rod
from the switch points with a suitable notch or notches provided in it so that
unless the points are perfectly home the disc cannot be lowered or revólved even
although the points may be moved a large portion of their movement and the
particular lever in the signal box been moved also. This forms a detector upon
the action of the signal so that unless the points are home the signal cannot be given
"all clear."
An alternative method of doing this would be that a connection from the disc or
arm by means of a crank placed at the bottom of the said dise or signal and a con-
nection at the lower end of the said crank which latter is fixed vertically, should
cross the said detecting rod from the switch points and end in a shackle, this latter
being connected direct to the operating lever in the signal box. The crank itself
would be of a T shape, one end of some length, and a link connecting this said end
to the second large lever of the co-acting apparatus: instead therefore of the signal
lever in the signal cabin operating direct on to one of the levers of the co-acting
apparatus as herein before described it would go direct to the lower rod which is
itself connected to the crank, the crank being connected to the signal (disc or arm).

page_text: The action would be the same as when the lower rod is moved, "äs of course tlie
points should generally be moved first by ordinary interlocking, unless tlie signal
refers to the position of the points when they are normal; änd would act that after
the points had been moved the lever of the co-acting apparatus referring to the
points would be operated, the intermediate small lever forced into gear with the
second large lever of the slotting apparatus, and when the signalman now operates
the lower rod attached indirectly to the arm as herein before described in working
the link connection to the long T crank he would operate the second arm of the
Co-acting apparatus thereby allowing the signal to be lowered.
The most important feature in this invention is, and it is the same with all
co-acting apparati, that where the points are put back first, where the connection to
the signal may be broken and the signal fail to go to danger, yet when the points
are reversed, acting upon the co-acting apparatus it would force the signal to
danger itself. This would apply also where the detecting rod from the points is
not provided.
It is obvious that although I have described my invention hereinbefore as with
reference to signals that give authority to proceed through a pair of points, the
points themselves having previously to be moved, yet it may very often be necessary
that a signal may be required to be given to a pair of points when the points them-
selves lie normally right for the said signal, that is to say that the points are not
required to be operated in order that the signal may be given "all clear." In this
case it is obvious that one arm of the co-arting apparatus is connected to the points
and the said arm is supposed to be in its worked position so that it is only necessary
for the signal lever to be replaced for the arm to go to danger. If the points are
not home then the signal is locked at danger and the pulling of the separate lever
in the signal box would fail to operate it. The detecting arrangement is also
similar in this case.
In order that my said invention may be better understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my apparatus. Figure 2 is a front elevation.
Figure 3 is a back elevation. Figure 4 is a plan of my apparatus. Figure 5 shows
my apparatus in the worked position.. Figures 1 to 5 illustrate a disc signal fitted
with my apparatus, which said signal is fixed permanently to the ground and the
disc and light of such signal move vertically.
Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 show the application of my arrangement to a revolving disc.
Figure 6 is a front elevation of such revolving disc fitted with my apparatus.
Figure 7 is an elevation partly in section. Figure 8 is a plan partly in section of
a dise fitted with my apparatus, and Figure 9 is a side elevation.
The same letters refer to the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.
A is the disc which is the day signal; B is the spectacle which is the night
signal; C is the weight which counterbalances the said A and B; D are links
connecting the said signal A-B to a T crank; E the lower end of the T crank is
connected by another link G to the middle lever L of my co-acting apparatus; H is
one of the levers of my co-acting apparatus which we may assume is operated by
the switch points; J Figure 3 is the other lever of my co-acting apparatus which
we will assume is operated by the lever in the signal cabin; L is the middle lever
which by means of the links G is attached to the T crank E. The action of this
illustration of my invention is briefly as follows:- -The signal is normally at danger
and the points are required to be moved until the notch in the blade K comes
opposite the raised portion F1 in the blade F Figures 1 and 5; while this is taking
place the blade H is being moved by the action of the points until the bevel on its
boss forces it into gear with the boss on the intermediate blade L operating the
bevel on the boss of the intermediate blade L and forces the said intermediate
blade into gear with the boss on the blade .J. When now the lever in the signal
box set apart for operating the disc is moved the blade J is moved and as the bevels
on the bosses have filled up the spaces it operates the intermediate blade L with it.
The intermediate blade L being connected by the link G to the T crank E itself

page_text: "
being moved upwards as in Figure 5 forces the disc A-B to the "all right
position, and the blade F through the notch in the prolongation of the stretcher bar
so that F enters the notch. If now the wire gets hung up in connection with the
disc shown in Figure 5, in the action of putting back the points the rounded end of
the notch would slide over the raised portion F' on the blade F, act upon the
blade F of my co-acting apparatus and put the signal to danger.
In Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 my co-acting apparatus is shown fixed in a similar
position to the permanent base of the disc and acts in a similar manner. The points
operate blade H, the signal lever operates blade J, the intermediate blade L
operates the signal and the disc is revolved through the movement of the blade M
acting upon the fixed arm O upon the standard of the disc. The result is similar
but not so accurate as where the disc is stationary and the position of the night and
-day signal moves vertically.
It is obvious that other means may be provided for replacing the prolongation
of the stretcher bar K over the notch, but the method described appears to be
the best.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In railway signalling apparatus slotting or co-acting a disc, substantially in
the manner herein described and as illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
2. In railway signalling apparatus arrangements for ensuring that a signal cannot
be operated until the points are perfectly home but allowing the points to be
replaced before the signal such replacing putting the signal to danger, substantially
as herein described and as illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
3. The employment of a co-acting apparatus in railway signalling apparatus
substantially as described with reference to the drawings so that the signal is jointly
controlled by the action of the switch points and the independent lever in the cabin
to which the signal applies.
Dated this 28th day of July 1891.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
Agent for the said Applicant.