Improvements in and relating to Switches for Railways, and in Means for Indicating or Signalling the Position of the same.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1892-Accepted, 13th Aug., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Switches for Railways, and in
Means for Indicating or Signalling the Position of the same.
I, OLOF ADOLF SJÖSTRÖM of 27 State Street New York United States of
North America, Agent 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 :-
This invention relates to a locking-device for fastening railway switches in a
certain position and to signalling and controlling apparatus combined with the
locking device for showing the position of the switch both to the engine driver and
on a separate controlling apparatus.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 shows an elevation and partial section.
Figure 2 is an underside view of the same with the signalling and controlling
apparatus belonging thereto.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section of part of the signalling apparatus and
Figure 4 shows another method of connecting the lock with the rails.
The lock itself consists of two angular arms 13 one end 14 of which is made in
the form of a catch. Both these arms are rotatably connected with a bar 11, which
runs transversely under the rails and at its one end is connected with a bar 10,
which in its turn is connected with the changing apparatus for the switch.
To each of the arms 13 is connected another arm 15, which is firmly connected to
the switch tongues B (B¹).
The signalling apparatus consists of a hollow pillar 16, which encloses a vertical
shaft 17, the upper end of which projects above the pillar and supports two
semaphore discs 18 standing at right angles to each other, and a lantern 19. On the
lower end of the shaft is secured a collar 20 provided with two upright pins 21. 22.
At the side of the shaft and on a level with these pins is arranged a plate 24 which
is moveable in guides 23 and which at one end is connected with the bar 11 by a
rod 12. One edge of the plate 24 is provided with two oblique notches 25. 26 into
which one of the pins 21 and 22 can engage according to their position relatively to
the plate. The outer edge of each of these notches projects a little beyond the
plate.
The electric signalling apparatus D which is situated at the place where the
position of the switch is controlled consists of a box with two openings 27. 28 in
which, when the switch is locked, a number appears indicating the track close to
which the switch-tongue is lying.
According to the accompanying drawing the number 1 appears when the switch-
tongue B' is locked to the rail A. The box D is connected with the signalling
apparatus by conducting wires, of which one is connected with a battery 34 and
two others with the contacts 32 33 in the pillar 16. These two contacts are
situated in the path of an arm 31 projecting from the shaft 17 and connected with
the battery in the turning of the shaft this arm is brought into contact with one or
the other of the two contacts thus closing the circuit to the mechanism, by means
of which the numbers 1 and 2 are moved into the corresponding openings of the
box. On the box an alarm-bell is placed, which is also connected with the above
mentioned conductors of electricity, so that it sounds as soon as the electric circuit
is closed.
The apparatus works in the following manner. Supposing that the switch tongue B¹
is locked to the rail A¹ as shown in Figures 1 and 2 when the switch bar 11 is
drawn to the right the angular arm 13 of the left lock is turned in such a way, that its
catch 14 is lowered below the under edge of the rail A', whereby the left lock is

page_text: set free and allows of the switch bar 11 being still further drawn to the right. By
this means the switch-tongue B is pressed against the rail A and passes the catch
end 14 of the right lock under the said rail until it is finally turned up over the
edge of the same, when the switch is locked in its new position. In the movement
of the switch bar to the right the plate 24 in the one notch 26 of which the pin 22
rests, also mores, thereby forcing the collar 20 and the shaft 17 to turn one fourth-
part of a circle, until the pin is set free from the said notch 26.
In consequence of the turning of the shaft 17 the position of the semaphore discs
and of the lantern is changed in such a manner that they show that the switch
cannot be passed. By the turning of the shaft the contact between the arm 31 and
contact point 33 is also interrupted and the number 1 disappears from its
corresponding opening in the box D. During the continued movement of the
switch bar to the right the edge of the plate 24 only slides along the pins 21 and 22
and thus produces no effect in the signal-apparatus until the projecting outer-edge
of the notch 25, just when the switch is about to be locked, meets the pin 21 and
pushes it into the notch and forward. The collar 20 and the shaft 17 are by this
means also turned another fourth part of a circle whereby the position of the
semaphore discs and lantern is again changed, so that the engine driver can see to
which track the switch is locked. By the last turning of the shaft the arms 31. is
pressed against the contact point 32, whereby the electric circuit to the number 2 in
the signal box D is closed and the said number is pushed forward to the corresponding
opening in the box whereby it can also be seen at the controlling station, to which
track the switch is locked.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. An improved locking device for railway-switches consisting of a switch
bar (11) placed under the track of two angles or knees (13) rotatably connected to
this bar and provided with a catch (14) for clasping the under edge of the adjacent
rail and finally of two arms (15) pivotally connected each with one of these angles
or knees and each fastened to its corresponding switch tongues.
Second. In combination with the safety lock a signalling device consisting partly
of a shaft (17) provided with semaphore discs (18) and a signal lantern (19) which
shaft at its lower part has a collar (20) with two vertical pins (21. 22) and partly
of a plate (24) connected with the switch bar (11) and movable horizontally which
plate has in its edge two notches (25. 26) with projecting outer edge, into which
notches the pins can engage when the shaft is in a certain position.
Third. In combination with the apparatus above indicated an electric signalling
apparatus consisting of an electric number apparatus connected with a battery (34)
of two contact points (32. 33) electrically connected with this number-apparatus
and of an arm (31) fixed on the vertical shaft (17) and connected with the battery,
which arm on being turned engages with either of the contact points thereby
causing one of the numbers of the apparatus to be visible.
Dated this Eleventh day of July 1802
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.