Signals and Facing Points.
Year: 1885

page_text: .Signals and Facing Points.
We JOHN ROYSTON, Woollen Merchant, 5 Blackburn Road, ROBINSON TURNER,
Main Line Inspector, 30 Paxton Street, and RICHARD WEBB, Signalman,
3 Grimshaw Street, all of Accrington, Lancashire, do hereby declare the nature of
said Invention for AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WORKING
RAILWAY SIGNALS AND FACING POINTS, to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to railway signals and facing points and consists in an
improved method of and apparatus for working the same.
The object of our Invention is to combine the working of a pair of facing points
on the main line with the signals in such a manner that in the event of any
breakage or failure occuring between the signal cabin and the facing points, the
signals cannot be altered until the facing points have been actually moved, or vice
versâ, the points cannot be moved until the signals have been altered.
We effect this by connecting the ordinary home main line signal lever and the
loop line signal lever by rods and cranks to a pair of locking plates placed outside
the rails, one on either side of the facing points and we secure the bolts or plungers
for these locking plates, one to either side of an additional cross bar connected to
the switches of the facing points, the bolts or plungers passing under the rails.
To open the facing points when the signals are on" for the loop line, and "off"
for the main line, the signalman first moves the N° 1, or home signal lever, thereby
putting the home main line signal "on," and bringing the opening in the lock plate
connected to the lever opposite its corresponding bolt on the extra crossbar: the
signalman then moves the N° 3, or points lever, thereby switching over the facing
points and opening the loop line, thus locking the bolt in the plate operated by the
No 1 or main line home signal lever: the signalman then moves the N° 2, or loop line
signal lever, thereby taking off the signal for the loop line and at the same time
sliding the opening in the lock plate (operated by this lever) away from its corre-
sponding bolt, so that it is impossible for either the N° 1 or main line home signal
lever to be moved to take off the main line signal or for the N° 3 or points lever
to be moved and the points put back until the loop line signal has been put on, by
moving the N° 2, or loop line lever.
By the use of our Invention we are enabled to lock the facing points and signals
without interfering with or adding to the number of levers at present employed
inside the cabin by simply coupling the ordinary main line and loop line signal
levers to the locking plates in the manner described.
Dated this 14th day of January 1885
H. B. BARLOW,
Agent for Applicants,
4, Mansfield Chambers,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.

page_text: Signals and Facing Points.
We, JOHN ROYSTON, Woollen Merchant, 5 Blackburn Road, ROBINSON TURNER,
Main Line Inspector, 30 Paxton Street, and RICHARD WEBB, “Signalman,
3 Grimshaw Street, all of Accrington, Lancashire, do hereby declare the nature of
said Invention for AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WORKING
RAILWAY SIGNALS AND FACING POINTS, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement: -
Our invention relates to railway signals and points and consists in an improved
method of and apparatus for working the same.
The object of our Invention is to combine the working of a pair of facing points
on the main lino with the signals in such a manner that the signals cannot be
taken "off" until the facing points have been actually moved or vice versa, the
points cannot be moved at all until the signals have been put "on" to block the
lines and so in the event of any breakage or failure occuring in the connections
between the signal cabin and the facing points, the pointsman cannot possibly
take "off" the signal for any other direction than that for which the points
are set.
23
We effect this by connecting the ordinary home main line signal lever and the
loop line signal lever by rods and cranks to a pair of locking plates placed outside
the rails one on either side of the facing points and we secure the bolts or plungers
for these locking plates one to either side of an additional cross bar connected to
the switches of the facing points, the bolts or plungers passing under the rails.
To open the facing points when the signals are "on for the loop line and "off"
for the main line, the signalman first moves the No 1 or home signal lever thereby
putting the home main line signal
** on
and bringing the opening in the lock
plate connected to the lever opposite its corresponding bolt on the extra crossbar,
the signalman then moves the No 3 or points lever, thereby switching over the
facing points and opening the loop line thus locking the-bolts in the plate operated
by the No 1, or main line home signal lever; the signalman then moves the No 2
or loop line signal lever thereby taking "off" the signal for the loop line and at
the same time sliding the opening in the lock-plate (operated by this lever) away
from its corresponding bolt so that it is impossible for either the No 1, or main
line signal lever to be moved to take "off" the main line signal, or for the No 3 or
points lever to be moved and the points put back until the loop line signal has been
put on by moving the No 2 or loop line lever.
"
By the use of our Invention we are enabled to lock the facing points and signals
without interfering with or adding to the number of levers at present employed
inside the cabin by simply coupling the ordinary main line and loop line signal
levers to the locking plates in the manner described.
And in order that our Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect we will describe the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings, reference
being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

page_text: Figure 1 is a plan and Fig. 2 an elevation of a pair of facing points on the main
line to which our improved locking apparatus is applied. In these views the points
are set to close the loop or branch line and to open the main line, the signal for
which is shown "off." "Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views to Figs. 1 and 2 but the
points are open for the loop or branch line, the signal for which is "off" and Fig. 5
is a plan of the facing points and locking apparatus illustrating the locking of the
apparatus when the points have only been partly moved over.
In these views.-a is the No 1, or main line home signal lever connected as
usual by a wire at to the signal or semaphore band also connected according to our
Invention by an arm a², cranks c and rods d, to the lock plate e which is fitted and
free to slide in a casing placed outside the rails g; h is the No 2, or ordinary loop
or branch line signal lever connected as usual by a wire to the signal or
semaphore and also connected by an arm h², cranks c¹ and rods to the other
lock plate e fitted in the casing placed on the other side of the rails g; j is the
N° 3, or facing points lever connected as usual by the arm j¹, cranks k, and rods
to the crossbar m of the switches or facing points n; also secured between the
switches n is the additional crossbar o the lower part of which is extended and
passes under the rails g to form the two bolts or plungers o¹ o respectively for the
locking plates e and e¹ the plunger o¹ being fitted and guided in a projection ƒª of
the casing fand the plunger o² in a projection f³ of the casing f¹.
When the signal i is "on" and the signal is "off," indicating that the main
line is open and the branch line blocked, the switches and the other parts are in
the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the plunger 2 is locked in the recess or
opening in the lock plate el while the plunger o¹ rests opposite the solid part of the
lock plate c and therefore a double lock is effected since the lever cannot be
moved to take off the signal i and indicate that the loop line is open as the plate e
to which it is connected is held by the plunger o², nor can the lever j be moved to
actuate the switches n as the end of the plunger o¹ is locked by the solid part of
the plate e.
The only lever which can be moved is the lever a which can be
operated to put "on" the signal b and block the main line.
The effect of putting "on" the main line signal b is to bring the opening in
the plate e opposite the end of the plunger o¹ as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, so that
the lever j can be operated to open the facing points by moving over the
switches n, thus locking the plunger o¹ in the plate e which prevents the signal b
being taken "off" and withdrawing the plunger o from the opening in the lock
plate e so that the lever can be moved to take "off" the loop line signal i,
thereby sliding the opening in the plate el away and bringing the solid metal
opposite the end of the plunger o so that the lever j cannot be operated to move
the switches n and open the facing points until the lever h has been operated and
the loop line signal i again put "on."
Fig. 5 illustrates the action of our improved locking apparatus in the event of
any breakage or failure in the connections between the signal cabin and the facing
points taking place before the switches n have been moved completely across and
the points properly set.
It has already been described that the lever j cannot be operated to move the
switches n until both the signals b and i have been put "on to block both lines
and bring the openings in the plates e and e' opposite the ends of the plungers o¹
and o respectively. If, when this has been done the pointsınan operates the
lever to reverse or move over the switches n and through breakage or failure in
the connections only a partial movement of the switches takes place, the ends of
the plungers o¹ and o will remain locked in their respective openings in the
plates e and e as shown in the Drawing, Fig. 5, and will thus effectually prevent
the pointsman from taking off either of the signals band i until the points have
been made right.
We would have it understood that we do not limit ourselves to the exact details
herein described and shown as they may be varied or modified without departing

page_text: from the nature of our Invention. It is obvious for instance that other forms of
locking plates and bolts or plungers may be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
1. The construction, combination, and general arrangement of parts forming the
improved apparatus for locking railway signals and facing points, substantially in
the manner and for the purposes herein described and as illustrated by the
Drawings annexed.
2. The combination with the crossbar o secured to the switches n and provided
with plungers o¹ and o² or their equivalents, of the lock plates e and e¹ or their
equivalents connected to and actuated by the levers which operate the signals,
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein set forth.
3. The method of working and locking railway signals and points, substantially
in the manner and for the purposes herein described and as illustrated by the
accompanying Drawings.