IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OPERATING POINTS AND SIGNALS USED ON RAILWAYS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Johnson, of Eccles, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OPERATING
POINTS AND SIGNALS USED ON RAILWAYS."
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Johnson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd June 1880.
HENRY JOHNSON, of Eccles, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OPERATING POINTS AND SIGNALS USED ON RAILWAYS."
My Invention consists, firstly, in a method of compensating for alterations in the
length of wire or wires which connect the "points" to the actuating levers or
other such parts, and which alterations arise from variations in temperature.
To counteract these alterations I cause the said wire or wires to act through the
medium of a fluid, which by expanding or contracting maintains the wire or wires
at an uniform tension. Thus I connect one end of a wire to a piston and the other
to a cylinder containing the said piston and filled with a fluid, which as it expands
or contracts compensates for similar altered conditions in the wire The aforesaid
cylinder and piston may be caused to move bodily with the wire.
In some cases I uso a piston and cylinder and a separate vessel containing fluid,
such vessel being stationary, and I connect the said vessel and cylinder by means
of a flexible tube.
I have above spoken generally of points, but my mechanism is applicable to
point locking apparatus connected therewith, or other such apparatus used on
railways.
Secondly, my Invention relates to shifting points by the action of rods moved
in two directions, that is, by push and pull. In such cases I propose to employ
wires or chains instead of the said rods, but to employ them in duplicate, and to
enable them to be operated in both directions by attaching them to opposite
ends of levers. My first improvement may be applied to these arrangements by
using the aforesaid cylinders and pistons in duplicate.
Another part of my Invention relates to the rollers or supports for the wires
connecting the hand lever and the signal, and consists in placing them at increasing
distances apart as they are nearer the signal post; by this means the weight of
wire in the longer distances takes up the slack from the shorter ones, thereby
causing the hand lever to move the signal more readily, and in case of breakage of
the said wire the signal will go to "danger" with greater certainty.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Henry Johnson in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 30th December 1880.
" IMPROVE-
HENRY JOHNSON, of Eccles, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OPERATING POINTS AND SIGNALS USED ON RAILWAYS." 5
My Invention consists, firstly, in a method of compensating for alterations in the
length of wire or wires which connect the points to the actuating levers or other
such parts, and which alterations arise from variations in temperature.
To counteract these alterations I cause the said wire or wires to act through the
medium of a fluid, which by expanding or contracting maintains the wire or wires 1
at an uniform tension.
Thus I connect one end of a wire to a piston and the other to a cylinder
containing the said piston and filled with a fluid, which as it expands or contracts
compensates for similar altered conditions in the wire. The aforesaid cylinder and
piston may be caused to move bodily with the wire.
In some cases I use a piston and cylinder with a separate vessel containing fluid,
such vessel being stationary, and I connect the said vessel and cylinder by means
of a flexible tube.
I have above spoken generally of points, but my mechanism is applicable to
point locking apparatus connected therewith, or other such apparatus used on
railways.
Secondly, my Invention relates to shifting points by the action of rods moved
in two directions, that is, by push and pull. In such case I propose to employ wires
or chains instead of the said rods, but to employ them in duplicate, and to enable
them to be operated in both directions by attaching them to opposite ends of levers.
My first improvement may be applied to these arrangements by using the aforesaid
cylinders and pistons in duplicate.
Another part of my Invention relates to rollers or supports for the wires
connecting the hand lever and signal, and consists in placing them at increasing
distance apart as they are nearer the signal post; by this means the weight of
wire in the longer distances takes up the slack from the shorter ones, thereby
causing the hand lever to move the signal more readily, and in case of breakage of
the said wire the signal will go to danger with greater certainty.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed more
particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the several
Figures on the annexed Sheets of Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying Drawings show my apparatus for
compensating the variations in the length of the wire or wires which connect
the points with the actuating lever. Fig. 1 is a plan; Fig. 2 is a vertical section
on the line A, B, of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a cross section of Fig. 1, taken on the
line C, D.
2
At 1 is a cylinder screwed at one end into a cross cap 2; into this cross cap
are screwed the ends of pipes or tubes 3, 4, the other end of these pipes being
screwed into another cross cap 5, the pipes and cross caps forming a frame to
to carry the before named cylinder 1, and for other purposes to be hereafter
described.
The cylinder 1 has a cap 6 screwed thereon, which is supported by a clip
provided with projecting parts 7, 7*, through which the tubes 3, 4, pass, and serve
to support one end of the said cylinder. The cylinder 1 is provided with a piston
or ram 8 passing through a "cup leather" packing 9 within the cap 6, such packing

page_text: being held in position by a gland 10 screwed into the cap G. I may here remark,
that I do not confine myself to a "cup leather" for forming the joint between the
ram 8 and cylinder 1 as other methods of packing might be substituted. Upon
the end of the piston or ram 8, outside the cylinder 1, is a cross head 11 formed
with projecting ears or parts 12, 12*, 12**, 12., embracing the pipes 3, 4, and
capable of sliding thereon, thereby acting as guides to support the outer end of the
piston or ram 8. This cross bead is also provided with projecting parts 13, 13*,
through which the ends of rods 14, 14° pass; these rods are joined together so as
to form a loop at 15, their other ends being provided with screwed nuts 16, 16*.
The rods 14, 14 pass through ears 17, 17", formed upon the cross cap 2, such ears
acting as guides or supports to the rods 14, 14. To the cross cap 5 is attached a
link 18, by means of the pin 19, the use of which I shall hereafter describe.
The interior of the cylinder 1 communicates with the interior of the pipes 3, 4,
through an opening 20 formed within the cross cap 2, and shown by dotted lines in
Fig. 1:
At 21, 21, are frames carrying supporting grooved rollers or pulleys 22, 22*,
23, 23, upon which the tube or pipes rest so as to be capable of moving thereon,
as will hereafter be described; the frames 21, 21°, are made with extended
parts 24, 24, 25, 25*, through which pass bolts 26, 27, which extend across the
tubes, and which prevent the apparatus from being lifted from the rollers 22, 22*,
23, 23*, but whenever it may be desirable to remove the apparatus for repair or
other purpose such bolts may be withdrawn; the apparatus can then be removed
without disturbing the frames 21, 21*.
The wire or rod 28, shown broken for convenience of illustration, is secured to
the shackle 18; the other end thereof is connected to the usual hand lever used for
actuating the "points." The wire or rod 28* is secured to the loop 15 formed upon
the rods 14, 14, and at its other end is secured to the ordinary lever acting upon
tho points, or vice versa. The length of these wires or rods connecting the hand
lever with the points is well known to expand or contract with variations of
temperature, and my Invention compensates for such variations in length of the
aforesaid connecting wires or rods in the following manner:-The tubes or
pipes 3, 4, the interior of the cross cap 2, and the cylinder 1, are filled with a fluid,
and as such expands by increased temperature it will force the piston or ram 8 in
the direction of the arrow, thereby drawing the two portions 28, 28", of the wire
or rod connecting the hand lever and points nearer to each other, thereby
compensating for the increased length of such connecting rods or wires aforesaid.
When the wires or rods aforesaid become contracted by decreasing temperature
the piston will thereby be forced into the cylinder in a direction opposite to that
shown by the arrow, the contraction of the before named fluid caused by the
decreased temperature allowing such movement of the piston or ram 8 to take place.
The quantity of fluid contained within the pipes 3, 4, cross cap 2, and cylinder 1
must be proportioned to the length of wire to be compensated, or the diameter of
the piston or plunger may be increased or decreased for the like purpose.
When the hand lever is moved to actuate the points the piston 8, pipes 3 & 4,
and cylinder 1, and other parts of the compensating apparatus move bodily upon
the rollers 22, 22*, 23, 23*, such rollers also allowing for the alteration in the
relative positions of the parts arising from variations of temperature. In some
cases instead of the pipes or tubes 3, 4, which contain the fluid the expansion of
which is to act upon the piston moving with the wire, a rod which actuates the
points I form as a separate vessel, which may be immoveable, and connect such
vessel to the cylinder containing the piston by means of a flexible tube, such
flexible tube allowing for the movement of the cylinder during the working of the
signal. I have hitherto spoken generally of my mechanism as applied to points,
but it will be readily understood by persons conversant with such matters that my
Invention is also applicable to point locking" apparatus or other similar apparatus
used in actuating and retaining “points ".in certain desired positions.
п

page_text: The second part of my Invention relates to shifting, points, and is illustrated by
Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 4 being an elevation and Fig. 5
a plan thereof..
At 30 is the usual hand lever by which the points are actuated; this lever turns
upon a fulcrum 31 carried by a bracket 32 supported by the beam 33, from which
fulcrum extend two levers 34, 35, from the ends of which extend wires or
chains 36, 37, passing over guide pullies 38, 39, then over ordinary supporting
pullies 40, 41, 42, 43; the other end of the said wires are connected to the ends of
two levers 44, 45, turning upon a fulcrum 46; to these levers 44, 45, is connected
another lever 47, to the end of which is jointed a rod 48, the other end thereof
being connected to one side of the point rail 49, this rail being connected by
rods 50, 51, to the other rail 49°, the two rails constituting a "set of points."
When it is desired to change the position of the points the hand lever 30 is
moved in the direction of the arrow; this movement will raise the end of the
lever 35, which will draw the wire or chain 37 in direction of the arrow; such
movement of the wire will turn the lever 44 in direction of its arrow, and carry
with it in the same same direction the lever 47, which, acting upon the points
through the rod 48, will reverse their position. The movement of the lever 44 will
also have turned the lever 45 in the direction of its arrow, which will draw the
wire 36 in the direction shown by the arrow placed thereon, such movement of
the wire being allowed by movement of the lever 34 connected with the hand
lever 30; when the hand lever is pulled over in the direction described it will be
retained in such position by the usual detent falling into the notch H formed in the
frame K.
When it is desired to again place the points into the position shown in the
Drawing the hand lever is pushed in a direction opposite to that of the arrow, the
effect thereof being to draw the wire 36 in an opposite direction to the arrow
shown thereon; this will cause the lever 45 to turn in a direction opposite to that
indicated by the arrows, and the rod 48 being acted upon in a direction opposite
to that previously described the points will be again placed in the position shown
in the Drawing.
Figs. 6 and 7 show my Invention as applied to point locking apparatus.
At 30 is the usual hand lever acting upon the two wires or chains 36, 37, as
previously described. These wires or chains are connected, as in the previous
instance, to the ends of two levers 44, 45, having a fulcrum at 46, which levers
are connected to a lever 47; jointed to the end thereof is a rod 48, its other end
being jointed to a lever 52 having a fulcrum at 53; to this lever are connected
two other levers 54, 55; from the outer end of the lever 55 extends a rod 56
connected to the ordinary lock bar 57, and from the lever 54 extends a rod 58, to
which is connected a plunger 59 passing through a guide 60; through a slot formed
in this guide passes a connecting rod 61 formed with two slots corresponding
with the two positions of the points 62, 62*, as is well understood by persons
conversant with such apparatus. When it is desired to change the position of the
points from that shown the hand lever 30 is pulled in direction of the arrow; this
will draw the wire 37 connecting the lever 30 to the points in the direction of the
arrow thereon which will cause the lever 45 to turn in direction of the arrow, such
movement causing the lover 47 also to turn will move the rod 48 in the direction
of the arrow, which acting through the levers 52, 55, will cause the rod 50 to raise
and lower the lock bar, and at the same time acting through the lever 54 and
rod 58 and plunger 59 will lock the connecting rod 61. By moving the hand
lever 30 in an opposite direction to that previously described the wire 36 will be
drawn in the direction of the arrow thereon; such movement will cause the lever 47
to be also turned in an opposite direction to that before mentioned, which acting
through the rod 48, levers 54, 55, and rods 56, 58, will again place the lock bolt
and lock bar in the position shown in the Drawings.
In Fig. 4, 5, 6, and 7 I have shown my apparatus for compensating the expansion

page_text: and contraction of the wires or rods connecting the hand lever and the apparatus
for opening or closing the points as inserted in the wires at the points F, G, but
I wish it to be understood that such wires aforesaid acting for the purpose described
may be used without the addition of such apparatus for compensating for the
expansion and contraction in the length of such wires.
Figs. 8 and 9 show in elevation and plan an arrangement by which I cause the
two wires previously described to act upon the points without the intervention of
the levers usually employed and previously described in reference to Figs. 4, 5, 6,
and 7.
The wire 37 extending from the end of the lover 35 connected to the hand
lever 30 is connected to a chain passing around a pulley 63 formed upon one end
of a barrel 64, the other end of such chain being connected by a wire 36 to
the lever 34, as described in reference to the previous Figures.
The aforesaid pulley 63 and barrel are mounted upon a shaft 65 carried by a
frame or bracket 66 secured to a cross piece of timber 67 attached to the usual
sleepers, upon which the rails are fixed. Upon the circumference of the aforesaid
barrel I form a spiral or inclined groove; into this groove passes a pin projecting
from a rod 68, such rod sliding in guides formed within the bracket 66; one end of
the aforesaid rod 68 is attached to one of the rails forming the point, such rail
being connected to the other rail thereof by means of rods 50, 51. When the chain
or wire 37 is drawn in the direction of the arrow by the hand lever 30 being
pulled into its other position, as previously described in reference to Figs. 4, 5, 6,
and 7, the barrel 64 will be partly rotated, and the incline groove formed thereon
acting upon the rod 68 will cause the points to be moved to their other position.
When the hand lover 30 is again returned to the position shown in the Drawing
the barrel will be partly rotated in an opposite direction to the previous one, tho
inclined groove thereon will move the points back again into the position shown
in the Drawing.
Another part of my Invention relates to the rollers or supports for the wires
connecting the hand lever and signals, and is illustrated by Fig. 10 of the
accompanying Drawings.
At 70 is the usual hand lever turning upon a fulcrum 71 carried by a bracket 72,
supported by a beam 73; to the lever 70 is connected a lever 74, to the end of which
is attached one end of a wire 75, which after passing round a guide pulley 70 and
over the usual supporting pullies 77, 78, 79, 80, passes round a guide pulley 81,
and is attached at its other end to one end of a lever 82 turning upon a centre 83,
the other end of such lever being provided with a weight 84; from the lever 82
extends a rod 85 jointed to a lever 86, to which is connected the semaphore arm of
the signal.
The pulleys 77, 78, 79, 80, for supporting the wire connecting the band lever 70
with the signal are mounted upon posts fixed in the ground, such posts being so
placed that the distance between them increases as they approach the signal. As
each succeeding length of wire between the supports is longer than the previous
one the greatest amount of slack wire that may exist will be in that portion near
the signal, thereby allowing the weight 84 more readily to raise the arm of the
semaphore into the position shown in the Drawing than if such weight had the
entire length of wire to move when the lever 70 is put into the position shown
or a breakage of the wire occurs near the lever 74.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood that I
claim as secured to me under the above in part recited Letters Patent and for the
purposes above set forth,―
Firstly. The use of a fluid the expansion and contraction of which acting
through the medium of a piston or plunger and cylinder compensates for variations
in the length of point and point lock connecting wires; rods, or chains arising
from varying atmospheric temperatures.

page_text: Secondly. Opening and closing railway points by means of wires, rods, or chains
acting by tension only; also the combination of such arrangement with the apparatus
above described for compensating the expansion of such wires, rods, or chains in
direction of their length as arise from various atmospheric temperature.
Thirdly. Placing the pullies, rollers, or supports used for carrying the wire or t
chains which connect the hand lever with the signal at increasing distances apart,
as they are nearer tho signal post, thereby causing the weight of the wire to assist
its being moved in the direction of the signal.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Johnson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty first day of December, in the year of our Lord 1
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
TT TATTICAN