IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR ACTUATING AND INTERLOCKING RAILWAY POINTS AND SIGNALS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis William Webb, of Crewe, in the
County of Cliester, Engineer, for tlic Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MECHANISM OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR ACTUATING AND INTERLOCKING
RAILWAY POINTS AND SIGNALS."
Sealed the 12th January 1875, and dated the 13th November 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis William Webb
at the Office of the Conimissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 13th November 1874.
f, FRANOIS WILLIAM WEBB, of Crewe, in the County of Chester,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR ACTUATING AND ÎNTER-
LOCKING RAILWAY POINTS AND SIGNALS," to be as follows:-
A
Firstly. My Invention relates to mechanism for actuating and inter-
locking railway points and signals, and consists of an improved
combination; arrangement, and construction of mechanism for the
purpose. I place certain hand levers, say for actuating the signals so
that their plane of motion is at right angles to that of other hand levers
for actuating the points. The levers at the side have tail pieces, arms,

page_text: or projections from them which when the levers are moved from their
normal positions will come in front of segments or in notches made in
segments secured to or formed upon the front levers, and prevent them
from being moved out of their proper order. The segments upon the
front levers will also act upon or come in the way of the tail pieces
from the side levers so as to prevent them from being moved except in
their proper order, and thus both side and front levers will act to lock
and unlock each other and prevent conflicting signals from being
given.
In place of tail pieces or projections sliding rods having notches may
be connected with certain levers, say the side levers to act upon notches
in the segments or quadrants of other levers.
This part of my Invention is illustrated by Fig. 1, a front elevation of
a set of seven levers; Fig. 2, a side elevation; and Fig. 3, a plan
section.
The front levers a (having their fulcrums at a¹) are secured in a cast-
iron segmental centre part shown more clearly by the detached view.
Fig. 4. One of the two side levers 6 on each side (having their fulcrums
at 6') has a tail piece b³ which comes under the segments a³ of the front
levers (a). One of the side levers 6 on each side has a projection 6ª
from it which comes in front of the adjoining side lever (6) and prevents
it from being moved before the levers (6), which carries the projection
b³, is first moved, and the tail pieces 6* pass (when the levers (6) are
moved from their normal position) in front of or into the notch in the
segment a² (see Fig. 4) and thus prevent one or more of the front levers
(a) from being moved (as arranged) and when some one or more of the
front levers (a) are moved the segments upon them will prevent the tail
pieces (62), and thus some one or more of the side levers 6 from being
moved. All the side levers 7 may have tail pieces 6º if desired, thus
dispensing with projections 68. The levers a and b are held after being
moved by treadle catches c which catch upon the edge of or come in
front of the quadrants d as shown, but in some cases the catches may be
omitted and the levers chained over in the ordinary manner.
The segment part a² of the front levers (a) may be formed solid with
the handle part of the lever as shown in Fig. 5.
Fig. 6 is a front, Fig. 7 a side view, and Fig. 8 a plan, showing slide
bars e with notches connected to the side levers 6 so as to lock by
.

page_text: coming in front of or through or into notches in the segments a² formed
on or attached to the front levers a, and this latter system of locking is
applicable to any desired number of levers.
Secondly. My Invention relates to arrangements for actuating signals
which have to be controlled by two or more independent signalmen. I
do not claim this principle of working as a part of my Invention, as it
was first in public use upon the Lancaster and Carlisle section of the
London and North-Western Railway in the year 1862, and therefore
this part of my Invention only consists in an improved combination and
arrangement of mechanism for carrying the above named system of
working into effect, and whereby any number of signalmen, by a simple
and compact arrangement of mechanism, may have control over the
same signal.
b
This part of my Invention is illustrated by Fig. 9 a front, Fig. 10 a
side, and Fig. 11 a plan view. a is the signal post, a bracket secured
thereto. This bracket carries the fulcrum or axis c of as many weight
levers d, d', and d³ (three only being shown) as there are signalmen
who shall have control over the signal. The weighted side of each
lever rests upon a rocking lever frame e having its fulcrum by preference
upon the same fulcrum (c) as the weight levers. This lever frame e is
connected by a rod f with the signal.
It will be seen that as long as any one of the weight levers d, d³, d³,
rests upon the frame e the signal will be held at "danger," and that all
the weight levers d; d', d², must be separately pulled off by the signal-
men who have control over the signal before it will lower by its own
weight to "all right," so that any one of the signalmen can put and
keep the signal at "danger;" but all must agree and consent by lifting
their respective signal weights d, d³, d³, before the signal can be lowered
to "all right."
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Francis William Webb in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 8th May 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS.
WILLIAM WEBB, of Crowe, in the County of Chester, Engineer, send
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of November, 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 successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Francis William Webb, Her special license that
I,. the said Francis William Webb, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Francis William Webb, my exe-
cutors, 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 MECHANISM OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR ACTUATING AND INTERLOCKING RAILWAY
POINTS AND SIGNALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Francis William Webb, 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 Francis William Webb, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement and the accompanying Drawings (that is to
say):
=
Firstly. My Invention relates to mechanism for actuating and inter-
locking railway points and signals, and consists of an improved
combination, arrangement, and construction of mechanism for the
purpose. I place certain hand levers, say for actuating the signals, so
that their plane of motion is at right angles to that of other hand levers
for actuating points. The lovers at the side have tail pieces, arms, or
projections from them which when the levers are moved from their
normal positions will come in front of segments or in notches-in
segments secured to or formed upon the front levers and prevent them
from being moved out of their proper order. The segments upon the
front levers will also act upon or come in the way of the tail pieces from
the side levers so as to prevent them from being moved except in their

page_text: proper order, and thus both side and front levers will act to lock and
unlock each other and prevent conflicting signals from being given.
In place of tail pieces or projections sliding bars or rods having
notches in them may be connected with certain levers, say the side
levers to act upon notches in the segments or quadrants of other
levers.
This part of my Invention is illustrated by Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive,
and the mode of carrying the improvements into effect is shewn moro
clearly and upon a larger scale by Figs. 9 to 15 inclusive.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a set of seven hand levers, Fig. 2 is a
side elevation, and Fig. 3 a plan section, and Figs. 9, 10, and 11 are
views corresponding respectively to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, bút upon a larger
scale with the detail more clearly shewn.
Fig. 4 is a side view showing the centre part of one of the front hand
levers detached, and a section at A, B, Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a detached view showing an alternative mode of forming the
hand levers and part for the notches.
Fig. 6 is a front, Fig. 7 a side view, and Fig. 8 a plan illustrating ȧ
mode of carrying out the object of the Invention by notched sliding
bars.
And Fig. 12 is a front elevation, Fig. 13 a side. elevation, and
Fig. 14 a plan upon a larger scale, and with details complete, shewing
how this modification of the Invention may be carried into effect.
Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating one of the systems of main up
and down line railways, sidings, crossing, and signals, to which the
improved locking and unlocking- signal and point mechanism is
applicable.
The frame for the hand levers is formed as shewn by a floor or bed
plate A, to which the frame A³ for carrying the fulcrums of the hand
levers is attached as shown, the floor or bed. plate (A) forming also a
guide to the levers and a cover to the mechanism below it, and also a
segment plate for the catches of the hand levers to take hold of when
the hand levers are in their two extreme positions. This bed or floor
plate A rests upon a wood frame A³ or other suitable foundation or
support. It will thus be seen that the whole of the mechanism is

page_text: carried by the bed or floor plate, and is not liable to derangement as
when the mechanism is attached to separate disconnected framings,
foundations, or supports.
The front hand levers (a), Nos. 3, 4, and 5 for the points, have their
fulcrums upon a pin a' carried by a stand A³ from the framing, as
shown. The centre parts of these hand levers a is shewn more clearly
by Figs. 4 and 5.
The centre part of the lever handles (a) consists of a casting (a³)
having grooves provided to receive the wrought handle a and the arm a³,
which is connected with the rod, transmitting movement to the points,
these wrought-iron parts being bolted or rivetted to the central cast
iron parts, as shewn. To each lever bandle a catch c-is jointed, and it
hooks upon the edge of the segmental part of the curved floor plate A
when the lever handles are in the normal positions, as shewn, and when
a-lover handle is pulled over the outer edge of the catch drops in front
of the ledge at the outer edge of the segmental part of the floor
plate A..
、
The side hand levers b, Nos. 1, 2, 6, and 7 for the siguals have their
fulcrums on pins at 6', as shown, and there is a tail piece or projection 6*
from each lever except Nos. 1 and 6, which extends under the segmental
centre parts (a2) of the hand levers (a), Nos. 3, 4, and 5, as shewn.
b* is the arm for the weight, which helps to balance the weight lifting
the signals to the "danger" position." There is a bracket or projection 68
secured to levers b, Nos. 1 and 6, which comes in front of levers b,
Nos. 2 and 7, and prevents the levers b, Nos. 1 and 6, from being pulled
over until levers Nos. 2 and 7 have been first pulled over, and this
dispenses with the necessity for tail pieces upon levers Nos. 1 and 6.
.
In the central segmental parts of the hand levers a, Nos. 3, .4, and 5,
slots are formed, into which the tail pieces b³ can enter when the hand
levers b, Nos. 2 and 7, are pulled over. When therefore one or more of
the hand levers b'is pulled over the tail pieces of such levers will enter
the slots in the segments (a³), or will pass in front of the segments (a²),
and will thus prevent some one or more of the levers a from being
moved, and when the lever handles a are pulled over this will bring the
solid parts of their segments opposite to the tail pieces of one or more of
the side levers b, which will thus be prevented from being moved; but
in some cases if desired the segments of the levers a may be arranged

page_text: so that when in their normal position they will look the tail pieces
of the levers b, the segments (a³) having slots in them for the tail
pieces of the levers 6 to enter when the levers (a) are pulled over.
$6
The mechanism shown by Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and Figs. 9, 10, and 11 is
5 arranged to actuate the points and signals for such a system of sidings
and crossings, as is shewn, for example, by the diagram Fig. 15. This
diagram shows the normal position of the points and signals when all
the lever handles a and bare also in their normal position, namely, as
shown by Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and by Figs. 9, 10, and 11. In the normal
position the signals both for the up and down main lines are at
danger," and the "points" for the sidings and crossings are in such
position as to leave both "up" and "down" lines open and all right for
passing trains when the signals are lowered. The hand levers a and b
in their normal position are not locked except that levers Nos. 1 and 6
cannot be pulled over before Nos. 2 and 7, but Nos. 2 and 7 may be
pulled over together when the catches are released, and so may Nos. 7
and 6. If the point levers No. 4 for the crossing between the "up" and
"down" main lines and No. 3 for the down refuge siding are in their.
normal positions they will be locked when the lever No. 2 is pulled over
to lower the "down" main signal to "all right," and when No. 1 lever
is pulled over the down distant signal is lowered and a down train can
pass safely, the pulling over of No. 1 lever back locking or preventing.
No. 2 lever from being put back to its normal or danger position. Before
No. 1 the distance signal is first raised to danger, when the levers
Nos. 7 and 6 for the "up" line signals are operated in the order above
described for the "down line," the like result will follow, except that
the point lever No. 5 for the "up" refuge siding will be locked and not
the lever No. 3, both hand levers Nos. 2 and 7 locking the crossing.
point lever No. 4. When the signals for both the "up" and "down”
line are at "danger" to block the line, then the crossing points can be
moved by lever No. 4, and this movement locks the signals at "danger”
when a train is crossing from one main line to the other. When the
down refuge siding point lever No. 3 is pulled over to allow a train to
pass from the "down" line to the siding, or vice versa, the "down"
main line signal is locked at "danger." The like "up" signal is locked
to keep the "up" main line signal at "danger," when the point lever
No. 5 for the "up" line refuge siding is pulled over for trains to pass
between the "up." main line and the refuge siding.

page_text: In Figs. 6, 7, 8, and in Figs. 12, 13, and 14, the other modification is
shown, where sliding notched bars are substituted for tail pieces b³,
forming part of the hand levers 6. In this modification the hand levers b
are continued below their fulcrums 6¹, and to the end of the arm b*, so
formed, a bar e is jointed which slides in holes through the parts carrying
the fulcrum pin (a) of the hand levers (a). One of these bars e is
jointed to No. 2 lever, and another to No. 7 lever, as the Figures 12, 13,
and 14 are shewn adapted for a system of crossing and siding points and
signals similar to that herein-before described and shown by the diagram,
Fig. 15, therefore no sliding bar is required in connection with levers
Nos. 1 and 6.
The sliding bars e have notches in them which are opposite the
segmental parts a² of the levers (a), Nos. 3, 4, and 5, in which segmental
parts there are notches for the bars (e) to slide through when moved by
the levers Nos. 2 and 7.
When the.levers are all in their normal position the notches in the
segments of levers (a), Nos. 3, 4, and 5, allow the levers (6); Nos. 2
and 7, and consequently Nos. 1 and 6, to be moved, or the notches on
the sliding bars e allow the levers a, Nos. 3, 4, and 5, to be moved; in
fact this modification is arranged to allow the levers to be moved and
to be locked and unlocked, as herein-before described in reference to
Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and Figs. 9, 10, and 11. In some cases the locking
of one point lever a by another may be desired. This is effected by an
arrangement illustrated by Fig. 16, a partial side elevation, and Fig. 17,
a plan; g is an oscillating frame, one of which is placed between each
two levers (a) that are to lock each other; the frames have their
fulcrums g¹ in eyes secured to the floor plate A. The frames 9 have
ribs at their sides, and the frame rests on one side upon a pin ʊ³ in
the lever handle, No. 4, and in lever No. 3 there is another pin 6 that
comes just above the frame g. If the lever handle No. 3 is pulled over
its pin 6³ passes over the rib g³ upon the side of the frame (which is
curved to the arc in which the pin is moved), and thus the pin prevents
the frame from lifting, and consequently the pin of the lever No. 4
(should an attempt be made to pull the lever over) will come against
the end of the rib upon the under side of the frame g; but when No. 8
lever is put back No. 4 may then be pulled over, as the pin 6º acting
upon the short incline at the end of the rib will lift the frame, which is
then at liberty; and this will prevent the lever, No. 3, from being
.

page_text: pulled over, as the rib g³ on the side of the frame 9 bars the way, thus
both levers, Nos. 3 and 4, are prevented from being pulled over at the
same time. The frame between Nos. 4 and 5 acts in the same manner
as that between Nos. 4 and 3.
Secondly. My Invention relates to arrangements for actuating signals
which have to be controlled by two or more independent signalmen;
which principle of working signals was first in public use upon the
Lancaster and Carlisle section of the London and North-Western Railway
in the year One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, and therefore I
do not claim such principle of working, this part of my Invention con-
sisting only in an improved combination and arrangement of mechanism
for.carrying the above named system of working signals into effect, and
whereby any number of signalmen by a simple and compact arrange-
ment of mechanism may have control over the same signal.
This part of my Invention is illustrated by Fig. 18, a front elevation ;
Fig. 19, a side elevation; and Fig. 20, a plan view; a, signal post;
b, a bracket secured thereto, this bracket carries the fulcrums or axis c
of as many levers d, d, d², (three only being shown) as there are signal-
men who are to have control over the signal. The weighted side of each
lever rests upon a rocking lever frame e having its fulcrum by preference
upon the same fulcrum c as the weight levers. This lever frame e is
connected by a rod f with the signal.
It will be seen that as long as any of the weight levers d, d¹, d³, rest
upon the frame e the signal will be held at "danger," and that all the
weight levers d, d', d², must be separately pulled off by the signalmen
who have control over the signal before it will lower by its own weight
to "all right," so that any one of the signalmen can put and keep the
signal at "danger;" but all must agree and consent by lifting their
respective signal weights d, d¹, d³, before the signal can be lowered to
"all right."
I have now particularly described the nature of my Invention,
and the mode of carrying the same into effect, and claim as my
Invention,―
Firstly. The construction, combination, and arrangement of hand levers
minta and

page_text: Secondly. The construction, combination, and arrangement of hand
levers a and b with the notched bars e, as herein-before described
and illustrated by Figs. 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, and 14, of the accompanying
Drawings.
Thirdly. The combination of weight levers with an oscillating frame
connected with a signal, so that any required number of signalmen may
have control over the same signal, substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis William Webb, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of May, in the year 1
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
F. W. WEBB. (L.S.)