IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WORKING AND LOCKING OR CONTROLLING RAILWAY POINTS AND SIGNALS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Buck, of Upper Tooting, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention of
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WORKING AND LOCKING OR CONTROLLING
RAILWAY POINTS AND SIGNALS."
Sealed the 18th September 1868, and dated the 25th March 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Buck at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 25th March 1868.
I, WILLIAM BUCK of Upper Tooting, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WORKING AND LOCKING OR
CONTROLLING RAILWAY POINTS AND SIGNALS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to a peculiar combination, arrangement,
and construction of apparatus for counteracting or compensating for the
expansion and contraction occasion by the variation of temperature in
the long wire connections used for working railway signals.

page_text: Secondly. To a peculiar arrangement and construction of apparatus for
actuating and controlling or locking the levers or handles employed for
working railway points and signals in such a manner that the signals
cannot be lowered until certain points are in their position, and these
points will be locked when the signals are lowered; also that one signal
can be made to lock another signal or set of signals, thereby insuring
the greater safety of the traffic upon railways at junctions or stations.
The first part of my Invention consists essentially in the employment
of an additional or "expansion" wire of similar form and material to
the " working" wire, and running in the same direction through a
portion or the whole of the distance traversed by the "working" wire.
One end of the "expansion " wire is immovably fixed, whilst the other
end is attached to "compensating" levers, which transmit the motion
of the working wire to the signal in such a manner that any amount
of variation in the length of the "working" wire caused by heat or
cold will be counteracted or compensated.
The second part of my Invention, which has for its object the
locking and unlocking of the levers or handles employed for working
railway points and signals at large junctions and stations consists in the
use of horizontal "locking shafts" placed between the levers and at
right angles to the centre line of the frame. These shafts rock or only
partially rotate in their bearings, and to each one of them there is
attached a bracket arm or "lock" situate in front of the lever in such
a manner that the lever cannot be moved from its normal position until
the rocking shaft is partially turned and the bracket or arm is lowered.
These brackets are of such a length that they lock both the front of a
lever in its normal position and the back of a lever when pulled over.
At a convenient part of the shaft there is fixed a shallow plate or
blade at right angles to the locking bracket for the purpose of receiving
the requisite motion from any one or more of a series of parallel sliding
bars, which are provided with projecting studs or notches on their
upper edges. These sliding bars are worked by lateral inclines formed
on sliding cross bars attached to and actuated by the levers.
Another modification of this apparatus, intended for the locking and
unlocking of the aforesaid levers or handles at ordinary junctions or
small stations, consists of horizontal "locking shafts" placed between
those levers that are intended to lock or unlock each other, and situate

page_text: at right angles to the centre line of the frame. Two or more shafts.
may be coupled and worked together if desired. In front of the levers.
double brackets or locks are fixed on the rocking shafts in such a manner
that one lever cannot be moved until the other lever is in its proper
position and the lock partially turned, by which means the other lever is
locked. The brackets may be of such a length that they will lock both
the front of the lever in its normal position or the back of the lever when
pulled over, or of such a length that the lock cannot be moved when
the lever is out of its normal position.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said William Buck in the Great Seal Patent,
Office on the 22nd September 1868..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BUCK, of Upper Tooting, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Buck, Her special licence
that I, the said William Buck, my executors, administrators, and.
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Buck, 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, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WORKING AND LOCKING QR CONTROLLING..
RAILWAY POINTS AND SIGNALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that.
I, the said William Buck, 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 Office within

page_text: six calendar months next and immediately after the date of said Letters.
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Buck, 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 :-
My said Invention relates, firstly, to a peculiar combination, arrange-
ment, and construction of apparatus for counteracting or compensating
for the expansion and contraction occasioned by the variation of
temperature in the long wire connections used for working railway
signals.
Secondly. To a peculiar arrangement and construction of apparatus
for actuating and controlling or locking the levers or handles employed
for working railway points and signals in such a manner that the signals
cannot be lowered until certain points are in their proper position, and
these points will be locked when the signals are lowered; also that one
signal can be made to lock another signal or set of signals, thereby
insuring the greater safety of the traffic upon railways at junctions or.
stations. :
The first part of my said Invention consists essentially in the employ-
ment or use of an additional or "expansion wire" of similar form and.
material to the working wire, and running in the same direction through
a portion or the whole of the distance traversed by the "working wire."
One end of the "expansion wire" is immoveably fixed, whilst the other
end is attached to a "compensating lever" or levers, which transmit
the motion of the "working wire" to the signal in such a manner that]
any amount of variation in the length of the "working wire" caused
by heat or cold will be counteracted or compensated.
"
The second part of my said Invention consists in the employment and
use of horizontal "locking shafts" or spindles placed or situate between
the levers and at right angles to the longitudinal centre line of the frame
or parallel to the direction of motion of such levers. These "locking
shafts or spindles rock or only partially rotate in their bearings, and
to each one of them there is attached a bracket or wing constituting the
"lock," which is situate in front of the lever in such a manner that the
sáid lever cannot be moved from its normal position until the "locking
shaft" or spindle is partially turned and the bracket or projecting.wing.

page_text: is lowered. These brackets are of such a length that they lock both the
front of a lever in its normal position and the back of a lever when
pulled over. At a convenient part of the "locking shaft" there is
fixed a shallow plate or blade at right angles to the locking bracket
or wing for the purpose of receiving the requisite motion from one or
more of a series of horizontal parallel sliding bars, which are provided
with projecting studs or notches on their upper edges. These sliding
bars are worked by lateral inclines formed on sliding cross bars attached
to and actuated by the levers.
Another modification of this apparatus, intended for the locking and
unlocking of the aforesaid levers or handles at ordinary junctions or
small stations, consists of horizontal "locking shafts" placed between
those levers that are intended to lock or unlock each other, and situate
at right angles to the centre line of the frame or parallel to the direction
of motion of the levers. Two or more shafts may be coupled and worked
together if desired. In front of the levers double brackets or locks are
fixed on the locking shafts in such a manner that one lever cannot be
moved until the other lever is in its proper position and the "lock"
partially turned, by which means the other lever is locked. The brackets
may be double or single and of such a length that they will lock both
the front of the lever in its normal position or the back of the lever
when pulled over, or of such a length that the lock cannot be moved.
when the lever is out of its normal position.
Having thus set forth the nature of my said Invention, I will now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, reference being had to
the accompanying explanatory Sheets of Drawings.
Sheet 1 of my Drawings illustrates the first part of my said Invention,
which is intended to counteract or compensate for the expansion or
contraction in long wire connections used for working signals.
"
Fig. 1 is a side elevation shewing the signal post A, the working
lever B, the "working wire" c, c, and the "expansion wire" d, d. This
expansion wire" is carried on rollers e, e, or in the same manner tha
may be considered suitable for the " working wire," it is also of the
same material and practically the same length as the "working wire,"
and is fixed at one end at f. The other end is attached to the com-
pensating bell-crank lever g, which is shewn on a larger scale in Fig. 2,
To the- upper arm at h (Fig. 2) is attached the "working wire," to the

page_text: centre or boss j is connected the expansion wire, and at k is attached
another wire connected to a weight which keeps all the wires in tension.
The lower arm m of the compensating lever works the signal n by a
vertical rod jointed to a short lever arm at o. The box or frame p, of
which Figs. 3 and 4 are end views, is so formed that the lever g can
move bodily in a horizontal direction as far as may be required by the
expansion or contraction of the wires. A pin projects on both sides of
the boss and slides in the slots r, r, which may be clearly seen in Fig. 4.
In case of the "expansion wire" breaking, and in order to avoid the
consequences of the weight pulling the lever forward and thereby
lowering the signal, the end of the slot is opened at S, so that the
weight will draw the lever quito out of the frame and the signal will
set itself to " danger." In case of expansion taking place in the wires,
which undor ordinary circumstances would be equally affected, the com-
pensating lever will be drawn forward to the position shewn by dotted
lines in Fig. 2 without the action of the signal being interfered with.
In case of contraction in the wires the lever will be drawn back without
interfering with the signal. I do not confine myself to this form of
lever and its connections, as they must be varied to suit the signals.
Sheets and 3 of my Drawings illustrate the second part of my said
Invention, which is intended to effect the actuating and controlling or
Jocking of point and signal levers,
I will first describe that arrangement which is intended for use at
large junctions and stations where the working arrangements of the
points and signals are complicated and the number of levers required
in one frame is large. This apparatus is shewn on Sheet 2.
Fig. 1 (Sheet 2) is a longitudinal vertical section of a portion of
a frame for thirty-six levers taken along the line A, A, in Fig. 2; Fig. 2
is a sectional plan of the same; Fig. 3 is a cross section, and Fig. 4 is
a plan of a portion of the locking apparatus.
The levers shewn are of the ordinary description, but some have front
and back projections forged on them, as shewn at a, a, (Fig. 3) opposite
the lock b and at c, c, c, c, (Fig. 2). The left-hand portion of Fig. 1
shews the front of that part of the levers where the locking is effected
by means of the wings or brackets d', d³, d³, d', on the spindles between
the levers. These wings are shewn forged solid with the locking
spindles, but they may be of cast-iron keyed on. The locking spindles

page_text: have bearings in the front of the frame e, e, e, e, (Fig. 2) and in brackets
at ffff, at the back of the frame, so that by removing a bracket any
of the locking spindles can be drawn out without disarranging the other
locking gear. These wings d', d², d³, d', serve the purpose of locking
the levers either in their normal positions or when pulled over, as shewn
by the dotted lines in Fig. 3 at g. At the other end of the spindles,
which is formed square, are attached by rivets or bolts the shallow plates
or blades, shewn at h in Fig. 3 and at h¹, h², h³, h*, ho ho, h', in Fig. 1.
By means of these blades the locks are held up as at h, or allowed to fall
as at 7, according to the position of the lugs or brackets j on the sliding
bars marked 1 to 10 in Fig. 2. These lugs may be riveted to the bars, as
shewn at j, j, in Fig. 1, or may be forged thereon. The sliding bars
shewn in Fig. 2 work through guide plates fixed at convenient distances
apart, one of which guide plates is shewn at k, and they receive their
motion from the double or single lateral inclines formed on the cross or
wedge bars, P, P, ', in Fig. 2, and m', m², m³, m³, m³, mo, m³, in Fig. 1.
A separate plan view of a double wedge or inclined bar is shewn at m
in Fig 4. The notch n (Fig. 4) clips the lever at n¹ in Fig. 3, and the
bar m consequently moves backwards or forwards with the lever. The
wedges or inclines o¹ and o³ in Fig. 4 work against the inclined faces of
the studs p' and p³, which project below the sliding bars, as shown at
p, p, in Fig. 1. Suitable brackets are fixed to relieve the sliding bars
of the thrust of the wedge bar, and are shewn at o, o, in Figs. 3 and 4.
It will be seen that the lever cannot be moved from its normal position
without the incline at o¹ moving forward the sliding bar q (Fig. 4) and
thereby raising some of the locks, and when the lever is moved to the
end of its stroke the incline at o' allows the sliding bar r to move
backward, thereby letting other locks fall. This backward movement
of the sliding bar is produced by the weight of the wings on the locking
spindles; but in case of very long bars being employed, this may not
be sufficient to move them, and extra power must be applied by means
of weights at the end of the spindles, as shewn in dotted lines at 8, 8, in
Figs. 1 and 3. Space for additional locking is provided for and shewn
at t, t, in Fig. 2, and by increasing the width of this part of the frame
and lengthening the spindles and blades h (Fig. 3) any number of sliding
bars can be worked.
I will now describe the operation of the locking on some of the
levers shewn in the frame, and with that obicct I select six of the levers

page_text: numbered 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, in Fig. 2, which will be sufficient to
explain the whole system. Lever 21 is a signal for the main line, and
20 a signal for a branch into the main line. Before 20 can be pulled
over and the branch signal given it is necessary to set two points,
the levers for which are 17 and 18, and it will be seen that 20 cannot
be moved until both 17 and 18 are pulled completely over. The lever 20
is locked by the wing or bracket A. in Fig. 2, or d³ in Fig. 1, which is
held up by the lug u, Fig. 2, attached to the sliding har 3. This bar
is kept in the forward position by the studs wo and x, which work against
the cross bars and 12 connected to the levers 17 and 18 (Fig. 2). The
pulling over of one of these levers does not release the sliding bar 3,
but both must be completely pulled over before the inclines 10¹ and ¹
come opposite their respective studs and allow the bar to slide back
and the lock A to fall. The same cross bars l' and effect a primary
locking by means of the inclines and x, which cause a forward
movement in the sliding bar 9 and lug z, thereby raising the wing B
and locking the lever 21, so that whenever either of these points are
moved in the slightest degree from their normal position the main line
signal is locked to "danger." In like manner it will be seen that when
the main line signal lever 21 is moved from its normal position the cross
bar 1, by means of the stud and inclines at v, moves the sliding bar 7
forward together with the lugs a³, x³, thereby raising the wings C and D
and locking the point levers 17 and 18. Again, when the branch signal
lever 20 has been released by the points being set it locks them over
by means of its cross bar 13 pushing forward the sliding bar 2 and
lugs y', y', thereby raising the wings C and D and locking the point levers
in the position shewn by dotted lines at 17° and 18° (Fig. 2). The
distant signal levers for the main and branch lines, Nos. 19 and 22,
are locked back by the hooks E and F, Figs. 1 and 2, attached to their
respective signal levers 20 and 21.
In the Drawing, Fig. 3, I have shewn that part of the frame which
contains the sliding bars as placed under the floor of the signal box, but
it may be placed in front of the box, either above or under the floor,
on the other side of the levers.
I will now proceed to describe the other modification of the second
part of my Invention, which is intended to effect the actuating and
controlling or locking of point and signal levers at ordinary junctions
or small stations.

page_text: The apparatus shewn on Sheet 3 of the accompanying Drawings is
an adaptation of the locking for the junction, a plan of which is shewn
in Fig. 5.
Fig. 1 is a sectional plan of the frame containing twelve levers in their
normal positions; Fig. 2, a portion of the same frame shewing some of
the levers pulled over; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section, and
Fig. 4 a transverse vertical section of the frame.
The locks consist of wings or brackets q, q, (Fig. 3) attached to or cast"
on the horizontal locking shafts r, r, and are placed between such levers
as are required to lock or unlock each other. The shafts work on.
screwed studs a in the front of the frame, as shewn in Fig. 4, and have
bearings in the back of the frame at b. They have levers or cranks c, c,
when it is required to connect two or more locks. The brackets or
wings q lock one lever at a time, as may be seen in Fig. 3, and when
they are reversed, as shewn by dotted lines d³, e', f¹, (Fig. 3) they lock.
another lever and release the first. These locks are self-acting, that is
to say, they are capable of being raised or turned from one position to
the other by the point or signal levers being brought to bear against.
the end of the wing which is inclined to suit the angle of the lever, as
shewn by dotted lines at 9 in Fig. 4.
For the purpose of explaining the operation of the locking I will now
suppose that it is required to set the signals for a down branch train to
pass the junction through the facing points 10 (Fig. 5), which of course.
stand open to the main line. In Fig. 1 the branch signal or semaphore 9
is locked by the left wing of the lock A, which cannot be reversed on
account of the projecting corner at being held up by the lever 10.
The lever 10 can, however, be pulled over, as the lock B will reverso.
itself and will stand as shewn at B' in Fig. 2, thereby locking the main:
semaphore lever 11. When the lever 10 is completely over, the notch k
allows the lock to turn when the lever 9 is brought to bear against tho
opposite corner 7. This notch also locks the lever 10 as soon as 9 is
moved, thereby preventing the points being altered while the branch
semaphore is lowered, as shown at k¹ (Fig. 2). The distant signal
levers 8 and 12 are locked back by the hooks C and D in Figs. 1 and 3
attached to their respective semaphore levers. It will be seen from the
plan of the junction that when the points 10 are opened for the branch
line the main up signals should be locked to "danger;" this is done by

page_text: the coupling rod E, in Figs. 3 and 1, which connects the lock B to the
lock F (Fig. 1) by means of the cranks c, c, connected at f and 7 to the
rod E, in Fig. 3, so that the levers 11 and 5 are locked simultaneously
by the lever 10. The double hook G locks back the levers 6 and 7,
which are the main up auxiliary and distant signal levers. The slot m,
in Fig. 3, allows the point lever 4 to be set over without moving the
connecting rod E or locking lever 11. Though the locking for this
junction requires but one connecting rod E it may be necessary to use
more for other junctions or stations with larger frames. Several rods
may be employed, one behind another, in the space on the same pin
between the two cranks c, c, in Fig. 4. The stops n, n, in Fig. 3, prevent
the locks from falling over too far; one of these stops is also shewn at p,
in Fig. 4.
Having now particularly described my said Invention, and the mode.
of carrying the same into effect, I would observe in conclusion that the
details may be varied to suit different arrangements of signals; but that
what I consider as novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The counteracting or compensating for the expansion and con-
traction of the long wire connections used for working railway signals by
the employment of an additional or "expansion" wire in conjunction
with the working wire and with a compensating lever, substantially
as herein specified.
Second. The application and use to and in the locking and unlocking
of the levers employed for actuating signals or points on railways of
wings or brackets carried by rocking shafts situate parallel to the
direction of motion of the levers, such wings or brackets being of
sufficient length to lock both the front of a lever in its normal position
and the back of a lever when pulled over, substantially in the manner
herein-before specified.
Third. The application and use to and in the locking and unlocking
of the levers employed for actuating signals or points on railways of
wings or brackets worked directly by the levers and carried on rocking
shafts placed parallel to the direction of motion of the said levers, such
wings or brackets being of sufficient length to lock both the front of a
lever in its normal position and the back of a lever when pulled over;
or of such a length that the wing, bracket, or "lock" cannot be moved

page_text: so long as the lever is out of its normal position; or of such a length
that the said "lock" cannot be moved until the lever has first been
pulled over, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Buck, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.
WILLIAM BUCK. (L.S.)