IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OPENING, CLOSING, AND LOCKINO RAILWAY LEVEL CROSSING OR OTHER GATES, WHICH APPARATUS ACTS SIMULTANEOUSLY OF NEAR OR DISTANT RAILWAY SIGNALS, AND PARTLY CONTROLS THE WORKING OF THE CROSSING SIGNALS; ALSO IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR INDEPENDENTLY ACTUATING A SEMAPHORE SIGNAL (OR SIGNALS) PLACED AT THE CROSSING, AND PARTLY CONTROLLING THE WORKING OF THE OPENING AND CLOSING APPARATUS; ALSO IMPROVED APPARATUS USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ABOVE FOR LOCKING THE GATES WHEN CLOSED; AND IMPROVED MEANS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SUCH GATES WHEN NECESSARY
Year: 1869

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to Charles Henry Lea, of Stafford, in the Oounty
of Stafford, Patent Gate Manufacturer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OPENING, CLOSING, AND LOCKINO
RAILWAY LEVEL CROSSING OR OTHER GATES, WHICH APPARATUS ACTS
SIMULTANEOUSLY OF NEAR OR DISTANT RAILWAY SIGNALS, AND PARTLY
CONTROLS THE WORKING OF THE CROSSING SIGNALS; ALSO IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR INDEPENDENTLY ACTUATING A SEMAPHORE SIGNAL (OR SIGNALS) PLACED
AT THE CROSSING, AND PARTLY CONTROLLING THE WORKING OF THE OPENING
AND CLOSING APPARATUS; ALSO IMPROVED APPARATUS USED IN CONNECTION
WITH THE ABOVE FOR LOCKING THE GATES WHEN CLOSED; AND IMPROVED
MEANS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SUCH GATES WHEN NECESSARY."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Henry Lea at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 15th January 1869.
I, CHARLES HENRY LEA, of Stafford, in the County of Stafford,
Patent Gate Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OPENING, CLOSING, AND

page_text: LOCKING RAILWAY LEVEL CROSSING OR OTHER GATES, WHICH APPARATUS ACTS
SIMULTANEOUSLY ON NEAR OR DISTANT RAILWAY SIGNALS, AND PARTLY CONTROLS
THE WORKING OF THE CROSSING SIGNALS; ALSO IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
INDEPENDENTLY ACTUATING A SEMAPHORE SIGNAL (OR SIGNALS) PLACED AT THE
CROSSING, AND PARTLY CONTROLLING THE WORKING OF THE OPENING AND CLOSING!
APPARATUS; ALSO IMPROVED APPARATUS USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ABOVE
FOR LOCKING THE GATES WHEN CLOSED; AND IMPROVED MEANS FOR RAISING AND
LOWERING SUCH GATES WHEN NECESSARY," to be as follows:-
+
This Invention relates to improvements upon my Invention of
Improved Apparatus for Opening and Closing the Gates of Railway
Crossings, which Apparatus also acts simultaneously upon the
Signals," for which Letters Patent were granted to me on the 9th
day of March 1863, No. 651, whereby the apparatus therein mentioned
is proposed to be made more simple in its construction, more effective
in its operation, and can be manufactured at a considerably reduced
cust.
This Invention also comprises other improvements, as herein-after
mentioned, relating to or to be used with my improved apparatus.
The improved apparatus for opening and closing gates consists
principally of two levers connected to a hand lever by a rod. The two
levers meet at their inner ends in the centre of the railway line, and
are connected together by a slotted eye and pin, or other equivalent;
the outer end of each lever is joined to two connecting rods, each rod
being in communication with an arm lever fixed on the gate heel with
which it communicates. The connecting rods have adjusting screws
placed on them to regulate each of the gates; the lever in connection
with the hand lever has its outer end lengthened, to which the rod
leading to the hand lever is attached; by this apparatus all the gates are
caused to act simultaneously. It may here be mentioned that if it is
a single line where the crossing is situated one lever is all that will be
required instead of the two above mentioned in connection with the
hand lever. The gates are mounted so as to turn on footsteps with
adjusting screws to move the gates farther away or nearer to each other,
as occasion may require, so as to prevent them from meeting in the
centre. The top centre arm of the gate is also fitted with adjusting
screws and plates (one of which is fitted in the post, and has indentations
formed in it, the other having projections formed on it which fit into
the plate in the post) for raising and lowering the gates, and so prevent

page_text: them from trailing on the ground; guards are also fitted on the heels
of the gates to keep them from dauage from stones, ballast, or dirt
getting inside and preventing the free working of the gates.
The hand lever herein-before mentioned is connected, firstly, to the
apparatus for opening and closing the gates by a rod (fixed to it at its
lower end), and in communication with the lengthened end of one of
the levers above mentioned; secondly, to the distant signals by a short
rod connected to a weighted lever acting on the signals; this weighted
lever has a chain attached to it (passing over a pulley fixed in the frame-
work, and thence to the signal wires), which by the movement of the
hand lover controls the working of the distant signals. The signal at
the crossing must be put to danger before the gates can be opened to
the public road, and cannot possibly be moved whilst the gates are over
any portion of the line or till they are closed to the public road, but
immediately the gates are closed to the public road the danger signal
can be taken off by a small hand lever, and show "line clear," at the
same time locking the gates, which cannot possibly be moved until the
signal is again put to "danger," ther by securing the safety of the public
in passing over level crossings. The small hand fever for working the
semaphore is connected to a rod, the other end of which is connected to
an angle lever. A bolt is attached to this angle lever, and at one of its
ends to another angle lever connected to a rod directly working the
semaphore at the crossing by means of an angle lever attached to the
signal post (the gates being shut to the public road). By moving the
semaphore signal lever, so as to cause the semaphore to exhibit the
signal "line clear," this bolt is caused to pass through a box fitted to
the frame herein-before mentioned, thereby blocking up a hole passing
through the box, and preventing the passage of a slide connected to the
large hand lever, thus preventing the movement of the large hand lever,
so that the gates cannot be moved till the small hand lever is again
moved to exhibit a danger signal at the crossing, thereby drawing out
the bolt and allowing the slide connected to the large hand lever to
pass through the box, and allowing the gates to be moved over the
railroad, at the same time locking the danger signal. The movement of
the large hand lever prevents the danger signal being taken off by the
slide fixed to it passing through the box, thus preventing the semaphore
signal lever from being moved so long as any portions of the gates are

page_text: it back to its proper position, thus locking the gates, so that when the
stops are raised the catch stop is self-acting.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Henry Lea in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 10th July 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
HENRY LEA, of Stafford, in the County of Stafford, Patent Gate
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second 1 year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Charles Henry Lea, Her special licence that
I, the said Charles Henry Lea, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Charles Henry Lea, my executors, adminiч-
trators, 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 Circat Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR OPENING, CLOSING, AND LOCKING RAILWAY LEVEL CROSSING OR OTHER GATES,
WHICH APPARATUS ACTS SIMULTANEOUSLY ON NEAR OR DISTANT RAILWAY SIGNALS,
AND PARTLY CONTROLS THE WORKING OF THE CROSSING SIGNALS; ALSO IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR INDEPENDENTLY ACTUATING A SEMAPHORE SIGNAL (OR SIGNALS)
PLACED AT THE CROSSING, AND PARTLY CONTROLLING THE WORKING OF THB
OPENING AND CLASING APPARATUS; ALSO IMPROVED APPARATUS USED IN CONFECTION
WITH THE ABOVE FOR LOCKING THE GATES WHEN CLOSED; AND IMPROVED MEANS
FOR RAISING OR LOWERING SUCH GATES WHEN NECESSARY," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Charles Henry Lea, 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

page_text: Once within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Henry Lea, 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 in writing, and on reference being had to
the accompanying Sheets of Drawings, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to improvements upon my Invention of
"Improved Apparatus for Opening and Closing the Gates of Railway
Crossings, which Apparatus also acts simultaneously upon the Signals,"
for which Letters Patent were granted to me on the ninth day of March
one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, No. 651, whereby the
apparatus therein mentioned is proposed to be made more simple in its
construction, more effective in its operation, and can be manufactured
at a considerably reduced cost.
This Invention also comprises other improvements as herein-after
mentioned relating to or to be used with my improved apparatus.
The improved apparatus for opening and closing gates consists
principally of two levers connected to a hand lever by a rod. The two
levers meet at their inner ends in the centre of the railway line and are
connected together by a slotted eye and pin or other equivalent; the
outer end of each lever is joined to two connecting rods, cach rod being
in communication with an arm lever fixed on the gate heel with which
it communicates. The connecting rods have adjusting screws placed on
them to regulate each of the gates; the lever in connection with the hand
lever has its outer end lengthened, to which the rod leading to the hand
lever is attached. By this apparatus all the gates are caused to act
simultaneously. It may here be mentioned that if it is a single line
where the crossing is situated one lever is all that will be required
instead of the two above mentioned in connection with the hand lever.
The gates are mounted so as to turn on footsteps with adjusting screws
to move the gates further away or nearer to each other as occasion may
require, so as to prevent them from meeting in the centre. The top
centre arm of the gate is also fitted with adjusting screws and plates
(one of which is fitted in the post and has indentations formed in it, the
other having projections formed on it which fit into the plate in the
post) for raising and lowering the gates, and so prevent them from

page_text: trailing on the ground; guards are also fitted on the heels of the gates
to keep them from damage from stones, ballast, or dirt getting inside
and preventing the free working of the gates.
The hand lever herein-before mentioned is connected, firstly, to the
apparatus for opening and closing the gates by a rod (fixed to it at its
lower end) and in communication with the lengthened end of one of
the levers above mentioned; secondly, to the distant signals by a short
rod connected to a weighted lever acting on the signals; this weighted
lever has a chain attached to it (passing over a pulley fixed in the
framework, and thence to the signal wires), which by the movement of
the hand lever controls the working of the distant signals. The signal
at the crossing must be put to danger before the gates can be opened
to the public road, and cannot possibly be moved whilst the gates are
over any portion of the line, or till they are closed to the public road,
but immediately the gates are closed to the public road the danger
signal can be taken off by a small land lever and show "line clear," at
the same time locking the gates, which cannot possibly be moved until
the signal is again put to "danger," thereby securing the safety of the
public in passing over level crossings. The small hand lever for
working the semaphore is connected to a rod, the other end of which
is connected to an angle lever. A bolt is attached to this angle lever,
and at one of its ends to another angle lever connected to a rod directly
working the semaphore at the crossing by means of an angle lever
attached to the signal post (the gates being shut to the public road). By
moving the semaphore signal lover, so as to cause the semaphore to
exhibit the signal "line clear," this bolt is caused to pass through a
box fitted to the frame herein-before mentioned, thereby blocking up a
hole passing through the box, and preventing the passage of a slide
connected to the large hand lever, thus preventing the movement of the
large hand lever, so that the gates cannot be moved till the small hand
lever is again moved to exhibit a danger signal at the crossing, thereby
drawing out the bolt and allowing the slide connected to the large hand
lever to pass through the box, and allowing the gates to be moved over
the railroad, at the same time locking the danger signal. The movement
of the large hand lever prevents the danger signal being taken off by
the slide fixed to it passing through the box, thus preventing the
semaphore signal lever from being moved so long as any portions of the
gates are over the line. The lever used in connection with locking
apparatus has fixed at its lower end a rod (to which is attached an angle

page_text: lever connected with the mechanism of the stop box herein-after
described), also a weighted lever at one end of which another or notched
lever is fixed. A sliding shaft fixed under the frame is attached by a
rod to an angle lever connected to a foot treadle, which being pressed
draws the shaft out of the catches in the notched lever and releases the
hand lever. The sliding shaft is continually bearing against the catches
by a chain and weight (which passes over a pulley fixed to the frame)
pulling it. When the hand lever is used so as to depress the stops
on the public road and raise those on the railroad this weight pulls the
sliding rod into the catches, and keeps the stops in the position required
till the treadle is used.
My improved mechanism for locking the gates when closed consists
of four stop boxes connected by rods (which are fitted with adjusting
screws to regulate the stops) to a centre cross lever. Two of these
boxes are fitted on the railway line and two on the public road. When
the hand lover herein-before described used in connection with the
locking apparatus is moved so as to raise the stops on the public road
and depress those on the railway the gates can be moved by the hand
lever used in connection with the apparatus for opening and closing
the gates. The rod attached to the angle lever in connection with the
hand lever for regulating the stops is connected to an angle lever inside
the stop box working on a shaft running through the box. This angle
lever is connected to the back stop by a pin fixed to the back stop
and working in a slot formed in the angle lever, the other end of the
angle lever being connected to a rod which passes out of the box and
is joined to the centre cross lever herein-before mentioned. The catch
stop is fixed to a lever which also works on a shaft passing through the
box and is attached by a rod (having adjusting screws to regulate the
catch stop) to the back stop angle lever which has fixed to it a piece
of iron with a hole in it for the rod to work in. When the hand lever
used in connection with the locking apparatus is moved so as to raise
the stops on the public road and depress those on the line of railway
the catch stop (which is balanced by a weight fixed to the other end of
the lever to which the catch is fixed) allows the gates to pass over it;
the weight fixed to the other end of the lever (as soon as the gates are
closed) brings it back to its proper position, thus locking the gates, so
that when the stops are raised the catch stop is self-acting.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for

page_text: "Improvements in Apparatus for Opening, Closing, and Locking
Railway Level Crossing or other Gates, which Apparatus acts simul-
taneously on Near or Distant Railway Signals, and partly Controls
the Working of the Crossing Signals; also Improved Apparatus for
independently Actuating a Semaphore Signal (or Signals) placed at
the Crossing, and partly Controlling the Working of the Opening
and Closing Apparatus; alsó Improved Apparatus used in connection
with the above for Locking the (iates when closed; and Improved
Means for raising and Lowering such Gates when necessary," I will
now proceed to describe more in detail the manner in which the same
is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect, and in
order that the same may be distinctly understood I have annexed
hereunto two Shects of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked
the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those
in the following explanation thereof, that is to say :—
Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved apparatus for opening and
closing the gates showing the connections to the hand lever; Figure 2 is a
side view of the same showing the connections to the heels of the gates,
the manner in which the gates are raised and lowered, the guards for
the gate heels, and an elevation of the gates; Figure 3, a side elevation
of the frame showing the manner in which the distance signals and the
opening and closing apparatus are connected to and worked by the hand
lever, also a side view of the small hand lever for working the semin-
phore and part of the connections thereto; Figure a plan view of the
same also showing the manner in which the semaphore or danger
signal is worked by the small hand lever and the connections thereto;
Figuro 5, a side view of the hand lever used in connection with the
locking apparatus to secure the gates also showing the connections
thereto; Figure 6, a section of the locking gear for semaphore also
showing the manner in which the angle lever (in connection with the
small hand lever for controlling the working of the semaphore) is con-
nected to the frame; Figure 7, a plan view of the underground apparatus
for locking the gates also showing connection to hand lever mentioned
in description of Figure 5; aud Figure 8, a section of the stop-box
showing the manner in which the gates are held when closed either to
the public road and to the railroad, also part of the connections to hand
lover mentioned in description of Figure 7. Figures 1 to 7 are drawn
to the scale of half-an-inch to the foot, and Figure 8 is one-fourth full
เ

page_text: The improved apparatus for opening and closing the gates is seen at
Figures 1, 2, and 3; it consists of two levers a, b, (inclosed in a frame c)
connected to the hand lever d (Figure 3) by a rod e. The two levers
meet in the centre of the line (Figure 1) and are connected together by
a slotted eye and pin; the outer end of each lever is attached to con-
necting rods, which rods are connected to arm levers g fixed on the
gate heels; each of the connecting rods has an adjusting screw h on it
to regulate each of the four gates; the lever b is made longer than a at
one end, and the rod e is joined to it at its lengthened end, and thence
communicates with the hand lever d, so that by the action of the hand
lever all four gates are caused to act simultaneously.
It may here be mentioned that if it is a single line where the crossing
is situated one lever will be all that will be required. The gates are
mounted so as to turn on footsteps with adjusting screws i to move the
gates farther away or nearer to each other as occasion may require, so
as to avoid the possibility of the gates meeting in the centre; also the
top centre arm is fitted with adjusting screws and plates; (one of which
is fitted in the post and has indentations formed in it, the other having
projections formed on it which fit into the plate in the post,) Figure 2,
for raising or lowering the gates, also guards k for keeping the heels of
the gates secure from dirt or stones.
The hand lever d, Figure 3, is connected to the above-mentioned
apparatus by the rod e, and to the distant signals by a short rod / con-
nected to a weighted lever m acting on the signals; a chain is attached to
the lever m, which passes over a pulley n in the framework and thence
to the distant signal wires, the lever m by the movement of the
leverd thereby controlling the working of the distant signals. It is
necessary that the semaphore at the crossing should be put to danger
before the gates can be opened to the public road, and it cannot possibly
be removed until the gates are entirely closed to the public road, when
the semaphore may be lowered by a hand lever herein-after mentioned
and show "line clear;" at the same time that this takes place the gates
are locked by the falling of the semaphore. The hand lever o (Figures
3 and 1) for working the semaphore is connected to a rod p, the other
end of which is connected to an angle lever q. A bolt r is attached to
the angle lever q and to an angle lever a connected to the rod t working
the semaphore at crossing by means of an angle lever attached to the
signal post, the gates being shut to the public road. By the movement

page_text: of the lever o from 2 to 1'the bolt is caused to pass through a box' v,
thereby blocking up a hole formed in it and preventing the passage of a
slide wo (fixed to the hand lever d) passing through the box, thus pre-
venting the movement of the hand lever d, so that the gates cannot be
moved till the small hand lever is again moved to 2, thereby drawing
out the bolt r from the box v, exhibiting a danger signal at crossing, and
allowing the passage of the slide to through the box, thereby allowing
the gates to be moved over the rails by moving the hand lever d to 1
which act at the same time, locks the danger signals by the slide w
passing through the box v, thereby preventing the passage of the bolt r,
and causes the distant signals to be acted upon by the weighted lever m.
The hand lever (Figure 5) has fixed. to it at its lower end (1) a rod y
to which is attached an angle lever (Figure 7) connected with the
mechanism of the stop box a', hercin-after described, by a rod b' (2), a
weighted lover c', at one end of which a notched lever d' is fixed. A
sliding shaft e fitted under the frame is attached by a rod f' to an
angle lever g, this angle lever being connected to a foot treadle h',
which being pressed causes the shaft e³ to be drawn out of the catclics
in lever, and releases the lever, so that it falls to 1 by the weight
of the lover o', thereby raising the stops on the public road and
depressing those on the railroad. The sliding shaft is continually
pressing against the catches in the notched lever d, which is caused by
a chain and weight being attached to it and passing over a pulley j',
so that when the lover x is moved to 2 the notches are lowered and tho
shaft e' catches in them, thereby keeping tho stops in the position
required, down on the public road and up on the railway line.
27
The improved mechanism for locking the gates (Figures 7 and 8)
consists of four stop boxes a¹ connected by rods to a centre cross
lever, and are fitted with adjusting screws to regulate the stops. Two
of these boxes are placed on the railroad and two on the public road;
when the hand lever is moved to 1 the stops are raised on the public
road and depressed on the railway line, thereby allowing the gates to ba
moved by the apparatus in connection with the lever d. The rod b' is
connected to an angle lever m' (Figure 8) (inside the stop box) working
on a shaft n running through the box. This angle lever m³ is con-
nected to the back stop o' by a pin pfixed to the back stop o', and
working in a slot formed in the lever m'; the other end of the angle
lever is connected to the rod / which passes out of the stop box a' and

page_text: communicates with the centre cross lever F. The catch stop q' is fixed
to a lever, which works on a shaft a', also running through the box a',
and is attached by a rod (having adjusting screws to regulate the
catch stop q¹) to the angle lever m', which has fixed to it a piece of iron
u' with a hole in it for the rod to work in. When the hand lever is
moved to 1 the catch stop q' (which is balanced by a weight o' fixed to
the other end of the lever to which the catch stop is fixed) allows the
gates to pass over it. The weight as soon as the gates are closed
brings it back to its proper position, thus locking the gates so that when
the stops are raised the catch stop 7' is self-acting.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention
for "Improvements in Apparatus for Opening, Closing, and Locking
Railway Level Crossing or other Gates, which Apparatus acts simul-
taneously on Near or Distant Railway Signals, and partly Controls
the Working of the Crossing Signals; also Improved Apparatus for
independently Actuating a Semaphore Signal (or Signals) placed at
the Crossing, and partly Controlling the Working of the Opening and
Closing Apparatus; also Improved Apparatus used in connection with
the above for Locking the Gateś when closed; and Improved Means
for Raising and Lowering such Gates when necessary," together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried
into practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my
Invention,¦
:
Firstly. The improved apparatus for opening and closing railway level
crossing or other gates, which apparatus acts simultaneously on near or
distant railway signals, and partly controls the working of the crossing
signals, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated in Figures
1, 2, and 3 of the Drawings annexed.
Secondly. The improved apparatus for independently actuating &
semaphore signal (or signals) placed at the crossing and partly controlling
the working of the opening and closing apparatus, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 3, 4, and 6 of the Drawings
annexed.
Thirdly. The improved apparatus used in connection with the above
for locking the gates when closed, substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated in Figures 5, 7, and .8 .of the Drawings
annexed.

page_text: And, fourthly. The improved means for raising or lowering the gates
when necessary, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated in
Figure 1 of the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Henry Lea, havo hereunto
Bet
my
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
hand and seal, this First day of July, in the year of our
CHA. H. LEA. (L.S.)