IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR INTERLOCKING LEVERS FOR SWITCHES, POINTS, AND SIGNALS OF RAILWAYS.
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Rob'. Spence, of the Firm of Murch & Spence, of
Bridgwater, in the County of Somerset, Engineers, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR INTERLOCKING LEVERS FOR
SWITCHES, POINTS, AND SIGNALS OF RAILWAYS.'
"
Sealed the 29th December 1874, and dated the 3rd July 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Rob'. Spence at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd July 1874.
11
I, ROB³. SPENCE, of the Firm of Murch and Spence, of Bridgwater,
in the County of Somerset, Engineers, do hereby declare the naturo of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR INTERLOCKING LEVERS
FOR SWITCHES, POINTS, AND SIGNALS OF RAILWAYS," to be as follows :—
The object of this Invention is that the interlocking action shall be
effected from or by the main lever of the switch, point, or signal, instead
of by a separate lever. The main lever, or a handle thereon is so
jointed that a portion can be pulled or pushed over to release the inter-

page_text: locking bolts or catches, and then a continued motion of the lever causes
a shift of the switch, point, or signal to take place and to become
locked. The handle of the lever or the lever itself is jointed anywhere
in its length, but it is preferred to make the joint at the termination of
the handle proper.
Forged or otherwise united to the handle are two projections or levers
acting as motion levers or bell cranks. The joint of the lever is made in
such a way that only partial motion is allowed to the handle either
forwards or backwards, or both, to allow sufficient lift or play at the end
of the projections to perform the motion of locking or unlocking. The 1
stroke of the bell cranks can be regulated by the amount of play given
between the bottom of the joint and the levers.
The motion of projections is transmitted through two connecting rods
moving locking bolts, which are carried back into their normal position
by action of springs.
The motion of lever handle in one direction only may be used if
preferred. The lower ends of the connecting rods work in slots at the
ends of the bolts, so that the bell cranks have no back action on them,
or they may work in a round hole to give back action if desired.
1
The working action of the handle lever is thus:-The operator on 2
taking hold of the handle when the lever is in its normal position will,
on pulling towards him, move one projection until the under side of the
opposite direction bears upon the bottom of the joint, when the operation
or unlocking or locking any other lever may be performed. The
operator still continues his pull on the lever handle when it, i.o., the 2
lover as a whole, shifts the points or signals as desired. On the back
stroke the same action takes place the motion of the handle in con-
junction with one bell crank only may be used if preferred.
The action of bolts or shutters may be used for interlocking other
levers through the means of tappets and bell cranks as desired.
8

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Rob'. Spence in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 2nd January 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROÛ³.
SPENCE, of the Firm of Murch and Spence, of Bridgwater, in the County.
of Somerset, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of July, 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 Rob. Spence, Her special licence that I,
the said Rob'. Spence, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Rob'. Spence, 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, usc, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR INTER-
LOCKING LEVERS FOR SWITCHES, POINTS, AND SIGNALS OF RAILWAYS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Rob'. Spence, 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 Offico within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Rob³. Spence, 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 thereof, that is to say :-
The object of this Invention is that the interlocking action shall be
effected from or by the main lever of the switch, point, or signal of
railway appliances, instead of by a separate lever. The main lever, or a
handle thereon, is so jointed that a portion can he pulled or pushed over
to release the interlocking bolts or catches, and then a continued motion
of the lever causes a shift of the switch point or signal to take place and

page_text: to become locked. The handle of the lever or the lever itself is jointed
anywhere in its length, but it is preferred to make the joint at the
termination of the handle proper.
Forged or otherwise united to the handle are two projections or levers
acting as motion levers or bell cranks. The joint of the lever is made 5
in such a way that only partial motion is allowed to the handlo either
forwards or backwards, or both, to allow sufficient lift or play at the end.
of the projections to perform the motion of locking or unlocking. The
stroke of the bell cranks can be regulated by the amount of play given
between the bottom of the joint and the levers.
The motion of projections is transmitted through two connecting rods
moving locking bolts, which are carried back into their normal position
by action of springs.
1
The motion of lever handle in one direction only may be used if
preferred. The lower ends of the connecting rods work in slots at the 1
end of the bolts so that the bell cranks have no back action on them, or
they may work in a round hole to give back action if desired.
▸
'
The working action of the handle lover is thus:-The operator on
taking hold of the handle when the lever is in its normal position will,
on pulling towards him, move one projection until the under side of the 2
opposite projection bears upon the bottom of the joint, when the
operation or unlocking or locking of any other lever may be performed.
The operator still continues his pull on lever handle when it, i.e., the
lever as a whole, shifts the points or signals as desired. On the back
stroke the same action takes place. The motion of the handle in con- 2
junction with one bell crank only may be used if preferred.
The action of bolts or shutters may be used for interlocking other
levers through the means of tappets and bell cranks, as desired.
The Invention will be clearly understood by reference to the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, in which Figuro 1 shows a switch point or 3
signal lever A with a jointed handle B. Projecting from the lower end
of the handle are two arms C, O, which in turn, by connecting rods D, D,
lift the catches E, E,. out of the notches of the quadrant straps or
locking bars alternately, or according to the direction of the pull or
throw over, for the purpose intended. The catches are attached or form 3
part of slide bars F, F, working in straps G, G, which also limit their

page_text: in:
downward action by shoulders bearing upon the top straps. The lower
parts of the slide bars are encircled by springs H, H, which tend to.
maintain them in a downward position, and so that the catches cannot
move unless by a motion from the handle B, which is also limited in its
action by inclined stop faces I, I, in the forked portion just below, the
joint pin J, upon which the handle moves as a centre. The catch
sliding bars F, F, have studs or pins K, K, projecting from them, and .
these being in connection with the lock bolts of the switch point or
signal locking apparatus, cause one or other of the bolts to be released
when the handle B is pulled or pushed upon, and then by a continued
motion of the handle B, which takes the lever A with it, the point or
the signal is operated and put into the required position to open or to
close the points, or to indicate danger or "all clear." The upper ends
of the sliding bars F, F, are slotted so that the joint pin L of the non-
lifting side rod may move down the slot freely.
"
It will be understood that the joint pin J can be at any position in
the length of the arm of the lever, but it is preferred to place it at
termination of the handle proper, as shown. The joint of the handlo
may be reversed, so that instead of the handle proper moving in same
> vertical plane as the lover arm it should move in a vertical plane at
right angles, thus having a lateral side motion right and left or in one
direction only, or the joint may move in any direction with regard to
motion of lever arm, as desired.
Figure 2 shows a side and edge view of another arrangement with
5 separate catch bars and separate sliding bars, the action of which is as
follows:-The operator on pulling the handle over to shift the points or
the signals, as the case may be, causes the handle to move until the
under side of the bell crank is in contact with the incline I of the joint
forming a stop, when the interlocking motion ceases and the lever
) advances forwards carrying the points or signals, &c., in the direction
desired. It will be thus seen that the locking and interlocking is
performed before the signals or points are moved from their respective
positions. The bell cranks C, C, move the actuating pins K, K, by
means of the connecting rods D, D; the pins K, K, carry the catch
5 stops E, E, with them on their upward stroke, so that the lever is not
released-from-the-notch-in-the-quadrant or sector S until the inter-
locking motion is performed. According to this arrangement the
catches E, E, on sliding up the inclines R, R, of the sectors or quadrants

page_text: do not move the actuating pins K, K, owing to the clearance
spaces M, M.
On reference to the clevation and the plan, Figures 3 and 4, of a
locking and interlocking apparatus the complete action will be under-
stood, the levers of signals and points being actuated in the manner 5
above described, and in the direction of the arrow. The operator on
pulling the handle of the lever will pull up the actuating pin K', at the
same time releasing the locking catch E. The actuating pin K,
through the medium of the forked crank arm Q, throws forward the
sliding bar N, and the sliding bar F¹ through the action of the bell 1
cranks b, b, shown in dotted lines on plan view, move their locking
bars P¹ or P respectively. It will be understood that on reversing the
motion of the lever A a corresponding action will take place upon tho
opposite catch and pin. On the plan view, Figuro 4, a set of threo
levers in one frame T are shown to explain their action. The three levers 1
are in their vertical or normal position, the main line signal at danger,
the branch signal at danger, and the point lever right, say, for main.
line. On moving the main line signal from danger to safe the sliding.
bar A is thrown forward and the locking bar P is moved forward by the
bell crank b, so that the stops c, c, on the bar P are moved in front of 2
other stops d, d, on the sliding bars a and N, thus locking both the
point lever and the branch signal lover. Again, on moving the main
line signal to danger the points and branch signal are unlocked and the
point lever is put right for the branch line, and on placing the branch
signal at safe the point lever and main line signal lever are locked 2
through the movement of the locking bar P¹ and the action of stops on
locking bar P and sliding bars a and N. Spiral springs are used for
carrying both actuating pins K, K³, and catches E, E', through their
downward or back stroke.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention and in 3
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,—
Firstly. Jointing the handle or the arm of a lever so that the motion
for interlocking is performed by the partial movement of the handlo
when operator pulls the handle to shift the signals or points, the
signalman or operator thereby performing the operation of locking and 3

page_text: Secondly. I claim the combination of appliances forming an apparatus
shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the annexed Drawings, as and for tho
purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Rob'. Spence, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of December, One thou-
sand eight hundred and seventy-four.