IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR OPENING, CLOSING, LOCKING, AND UNLOCKING CART AND OTHER GATES ON RAILWAY LEVEL CROSSINGS, TOGETHER WITH SIGNALS IN CONNECTION THERE- WITH
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Daws, of Penge, in the County of Surrey,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
OPENING, CLOSING, LOCKING, AND UNLOCKING CART AND OTHER GATES ON
RAILWAY LEVEL CROSSINGS, TOGETHER WITH SIGNALS IN CONNECTION THERE-
WITH."
Sealed the 6th August 1867, and dated the 9th February 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Daws at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th February 1867.
I, GEORGE DAWS, of Penge, in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR OPENING, CLOSING, LOCKING, AND UNLOCKING CART AND OTHER GATES ON
RAILWAY LEVEL CROSSINGS, TOGETHER WITH SIGNALS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH,"
to be as follows:-
The first part of my Invention consists of improvements in machinery or
apparatus for opening and closing cart and other gates on railway level
crossings by the action of a passing train or trains in manner hereafter..
described.
The posts to which the gates are attached are supported at bottom and rest
in stone or metal sockets. At a convenient distance above the sockets a yoke
is keyed or otherwise secured to the post, to the ends of which chains or wire

page_text: rope are attached, each passing over a roller mounted on shafts supported and
free to revolve on bearings in a metal frame or case resting on or sunk in the
ground at the side of the post. Weights are attached to the ends of the
chains, and the position regulated so that when one weight is raised the
other is lowered. The weights rest on discs or plates of metal, and below
these discs and the bottom of the case strong springs are placed, by preference
two for each weight. Between the springs there is a bell-crank lever con-
nected by a link at one end to the disc, and at the other to a rod passing
through the case in one direction, and in the other to a frame or tube. This
frame or tube is divided into two parts, one to receive the rod just mentioned,
and the other to receive a second rod, which latter is in connection with a box
containing notches to receive a pawl or latch, as hereafter described, and this
box is in connection with a rod extending some distance, but which must be
regulated according to circumstances and as practice may dictate along the
line of rails, where it is to be acted on by the wheels of a passing train. The
cther end of the rod connected to the bell-crank lever and passing through
the frame or case as before described, is at its termination linked to a lever
which carries a pawl or catch taking into a notched plate or box; to this box
a rod is united extending along the liue of rails in the contrary direction to
that of the other, where it is acted on by the passing of a train, as in the
previous case. The two boxes are placed in communication by a rod united
to the other bell crank, and this rod carries a lever similar to that before
described, and which causes a catch or pawl to take into the notches of the
other box. Supposing the gates to be closed for a train and open to carts to
cross the line of rails, on a train passing over the distance rod, and on its
being consequently released thereby, the bell-crank levers move, one spring
contracts and the other expands, one weight falls and the other rises, and the
chains following, the motion of the weight's motion is communicated to the
yoke, and the gate is thrown open; as soon as the train has passed between
the gates and over the termination of the distance rod the latter is released
and the parts return to their normal position. The four gates 'àre simul-
taneously opened, locked, and unlocked by the passing of the trains through
levers and rods extending across the line of rails..
To indicate to the engine driver whether the gates are opened or closed I
place between the permanent way at the terminals of the distance' rods a disc
mounted on a post, which is free to turn by the action of a rod leading to the
gates, and connected with the lever or levers crossing the line, so that as
the gates have motion imparted to them the rod also moves and motion is
communicated to the disc.
"

page_text: In order to show whether the line is clear for traffic across, or whether a
train or trains is or are approaching, I make use of a signal constructed.
and acting in the following manner :-I place an ordinary signal post at the
side of the line, and at the point of junction of the two gates. This post is
fitted with a signal, such as ordinary arms, which when the line is clear &
free for people to cross are not extended, but when the gates are about to
close, they, by means of the following machinery, become extended, and so
indicate that it is dangerous to cross the line; lights are added at night. I
connect the arms to a rod extending down the post and carrying a socket free
to slide within certain limits thereon; the lower end of this rod is united by
cranks to a rod running some considerable distance along the line.
train passes over its termination or point it communicates motion thereto,
draws down the vertical rod, and extends the arms on the post. As the rod
moves so does the sliding socket, which is then in a position to receive a bolt
on the gate as the latter is opened, and in the manner before described by the
action of the train.
As a
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Daws in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
August 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
DAWS, of Penge, in the County of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of
Her reign did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said George Daws, Her special licence that I, the said George
Daws, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said George Daws, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR OPENING, CLOSING, LOCKING, AND
UNLOCKING CART AND OTHER GATES ON RAILWAY LEVEL CROSSINGS, TOGETHER
WITH SIGNALS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said George Daws, my executors or. administrators, by an instru-

page_text: ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Daws, do hereby, declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, that is
to say:-
The first part of my Invention consists of improvements in machinery or
apparatus for opening and closing cart and other gates on railway level
crossings by the action of a passing train or trains in manner hereafter described.
The posts to which the gates are attached are supported at bottom
and rest in stone or metal sockets. At a convenient distance above the
sockets a yoke pulley is keyed or otherwise secured to the post, to the ends
of or round which chains or wire rope are attached, each passing over a roller
mounted on shafts supported and free to revolve on bearings in a metal frame
or case resting on or sunk in the ground at the side of the post. Weights are
attached to the ends of the chains, and the position regulated, so that when
one weight is raised the other is lowered; the weights rest on discs or plates
of metal, and below these discs and the bottom of the caso strong springs or
balance levers are placed; between these springs or levers there is a lever
connected at one end to the disc, and at the other to a rod passing through
the case in one direction, and in the other to a frame or tube; this frame or
tube is divided into two parts, one to receive the rod just mentioned, and the
other to receive a second rod, which latter is in connection with a box con-
taining notebes to receive a pawl or latch, as hereafter described, and this box
is in connection with a rod extending some distance, but which must be
regulated according to circunstances and as practise may dictate along the
line of rails where it is to be acted on by the wheels of a passing train; the
other end of the rod connected to the lever is at its termination linked to a
lever which carries a pawl or catch taking into a notched plate or box; to
this box a rod is. united extending along the line of rails in the contrary
direction to that of the other, where it is acted on by the passing of a train,
as in the previous case. The two boxes are placed in communication by a
rod, and this rod carries a lever similar to that before described, and which
causes a catch or pawl to take into the notches of the other box. Supposing
the gates to be closed for a train and open to carts to cross the line of rails, on

page_text: a train passing over the distance rod, and on its being consequently released
thereby, the levers move, one weight rises and the other falls, and the chains
following, the motion of the weight's motion is communicated to the yoke, and
the gate is thrown open; as soon as the train has passed between the gates and
over the termination of the distance rod the latter is released and the parts
return to their normal position. The four gates are simultaneously opened,
locked, and unlocked by the passing of the trains through levers and rods
extending across the line of rails.
To indicate to the engine driver whether the gates are opened or closed I
place between the permanent way at the terminals of the distance rods a disc
mounted on a post which is free to turn by the action of a rod leading to the
gates and connected with the lever or levers crossing the line, so that as the
gates have motion imparted to them the rod also moves, and motion is
communicated to the disc.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a view in side elevation, partly
in section, of my machinery or apparatus for opening and closing cart gates
on railway level crossings, and Figure 2 is a view in plan of the apparatus
complete, but drawn upon a somewhat smaller scale to that of the other;
Figure 3 is a view in plan of a portion of the latter Figure showing, the chief
parts more clearly. Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in these
three Figures.
A, A, are the gate posts resting in sockets B, and carrying pulleys C, C.;
chains pass round these pulleys and over other pulleys D, D, carrying at the
other end weights; E, E, are discs or plates free to slide in a case or box F';
a, a, are friction' rollers for guiding the motion of the plates E, E; G, G, are
the weights, their number and weight being regulated by the size and weight
of the gates; H, H, are balance levers having their fulcrums at I and 'united
by links or cranks to the under sides of the plates or discs E, E. The case F
is slotted to allow free action to the balance levers. A gate post is: fitted
with apparatus, as just described, on each side, the action of which is similar.
in each case, therefore there is an apparatus for every two gates; thus-it
will be seen that as the motion is communicated to the balance levers, as
hereafter described, one of the discs or plates falls while the other. rises, and
so through the chains passing round the pullies C, C. The gate posts. have
motion communicated to them, and the gates are caused all to swing as herein-
after more fully described. To the balance levers H, H, L attach cranks J, J,
connected by chains K, K, to a frame M, and by a rod N. to a treadle N¹ on
the line of rails, and over which the train passes. In the following description
it must be understood that there are two apparatus, que on each side, for

page_text: each separate line of rails, but for the sake of clearness I shall only describe
one, as they are in both cases similar. The rod N, just mentioned; is united
to the frame or tube M by what I term a "stop catch" or slide O, to which
a short rod P and a long rod Q are attached. The short rod P carries a cross
head working in a slot cut in the frame or tube M; the long rod Q passes
along to a bell crank R and across to the opposite action by rods S³, where it
is fitted to a crank S¹ corresponding with a similar crank S on the side now
being described. The long rod Q is attached by a link T to a crank V, the
short arm of which is jointed, as shown, and acts on the slide W, which
consists of a piece of metal placed between two guides, a detached view of
which is given at Figure 4. The slide W is united by a short rod and chain a
to a lever b, which has its fulcrum at 61, and its other arm carries a weighted
chain passing over a pulley c; this lever b is shown in the notch of the stop
catch or slide d, and this slide is connected first by slotted links e, e, to one
arm of a bell crank f, the other arm of which carries a rod g extending across
the lines of rail to one arm of another bell crank lever h, the other arm of
which carries a rod extending to a lever i corresponding with the lever i³ on
the side now being described. The stop catch d is also connected to a frame
or tube d¹, similar to that before described and marked M, which has at its
other end a chain passing over the pulley k, and connected to one of the
cranks J on the balance levers H, H; l is a rod uniting the bell-crank.lever f
with the long arm of a crank 9, similar in construction to that on the other
side, and marked V; the short arm acts on a slide similar in construction to that
before described, and in connection with a similar lever m having its fulcrum
at m³, and carrying at its other end a weighted chain passing over a pulley m³.
The action is as follows:-Supposing the apparatus, as it is shewn in the
Drawing, to be set for an approaching train, the jointed arm of the crank V
resting in the notch of the slide W and the jointed arm of the crank g out of
the notch of the slide h, as the train approaches in the direction of the
arrow and acts upon the rod N through the treadle N¹ by the line of rails
motion is communicated to the long rod Q, pulling by means of the link T the
crank V back, and causing the short arm thereof to describe the are of a
circle, thereby pushing back the slide W and drawing the lever 6 out of the
notch in the stop catch d, but as the stop catch d can only move in a straight
direction, and the end of the crank V in a circular direction, the arm of the
crank is drawn entirely out of the way and clear of the slide W, and conse-
quently the slide goes back, and the parts just described would then occupy
the position of the parts on the other side, videlicit, that of the lever marked 9,
slide h, and lever m, for the jointed arm of the crank 9 has been drawn away

page_text: by its circular motion as described, for the other crank V and the slide h and
small lever m have returned to their former position, being drawn back bý
the action of the weight on the end of the chain passing round the pulley m².
As soon as the stop catch or slide d is released the balance levers H come
into action by one set of the weights pressing on the plates E, E, and the
gates are caused to swing open to the posts Z, Z, in the centre of the road, as
before described, allowing free passage for the train along the line. When
.the train has passed through the gates and to the distance treadle N' it
through the rod p draws the stop catch d back, and the lever 6 takes into the
catch as before, and into the position shown in the Drawing, the gates at the
same time through the action of the weights E, E, and weighted or balance
levers H, H, swinging across the line of rails ready for another train to act
on the treadle N', and allowing the roadway free for the passage of vehicles
across the line. Each gate post carries a bell-crank lever with arms of equal
length, consequently there are four of such levers; the arm q¹ of bell
crank No. 1 is connected by a rod r to one arm of a lever s, the other arm of
which is connected by a rod r³ to the arm 9 of bell crank No. 2; the arm q
of bell crank No. 1 is connected by a rod to one arm of a lever s¹; it
therefore follows that as the gate posts more that these bell crank levers move
also, and the gates being attached to the post swing therewith, motion being
communicated from one post to the other by means of the aforesaid bell
cranks, rods, and levers; similar appliances are fitted on the other side and
are marked with similar letters of reference. The central levers s¹ carry a
short lever, to which a rod or chains is connected leading along the line
of rails to a disc or other signal placed somewhat nearer the gates than the
treadles, so that the driver may see by the said signal after the train has
passed over the treadle whether the gates have opened to allow of the passing
of his train.
"
To prevent two trains being simultaneously within the distances occupied
by the locking and unlocking treadles, I employ another disc signal acted
on by the motion of the treadle, so that upon a train passing over tho
first treadle the signal is placed at danger, and so prevents another train
passing until the first is clear of the unlocking treadle. The turnstiles for foot
passengers, which I use in connection with the cart gates before described,
are constructed and act somewhat in a similar manner to those described in
the Specification of a Patent granted to me the Sixth December, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-five, Number 3188, but in these I dispense with
springs and render them otherwise somewhat more effective.
Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 are views of this turnstile, Figure 5 showing. the

page_text: position it occupies in respect to the cart gates. In this action only one lever
catch is used, the spring is also dispensed with; A represents the lever catch
having its fulcrum at a, and supported by another lever B, one end of this
lever is weighted, whereby the other end has always a tendency to press
upwards, this end is connected by a double link C, an end view of which is
shown in Figure 7; in this link the upper arms of two bell cranks D work,
each having a short cross head which work in slots made for the purpose;
that next the plate belongs to the locking wire of the line which is on the
same side as the gate, and is fixed to the pin which runs through the plate,
wliere it is fixed to the stop catch E shown in Figure 8. By placing the
stop catch on the back side of the plate it is out of the way of the lever catch
and so does not impede its working, the stop catch is kept down not by a spring
as described in the Specification of my Patent before referred to, but by the
short arm or lever ; this is kept back in the notch by the long lever G which
is fixed to the same pin which also has another arm I fixed to it, to the end of
this arm the unlocking wire is attached. The dotted lines in Figure 6 show
the position when locked; R is a regulator.
In order to show whether the line is clear for traffic across, or whether a
train or trains is or are approaching, I make use of a signal constructed and
acting in the following manner :-I place an ordinary signal post at the side
of the line and at the point of junction of the two gates; this post is fitted
with a signal, such as ordinary arms, which when the line is clear and free
for people to cross are not extended, but when the gates are about to close
they, by means of the following machinery, become extended, and so indicate
that it is dangerous to cross the line, lights are added at night. I connect the
arms to a rod extending down the post, and carrying a socket free to slide
within certain limits thereon, the lower end of this rod is united by cranks
to a rod running some considerable distance along the line. As a train passes
over its termination or point it communicates motion thereto, draws down
the vertical rod and extends the arms on the post; as the rod moves so does
the sliding socket which is then in a position to receive a bolt on the grate
as the latter is opened, and in the manner before described by the action of
the train.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal section of a post constructed in the manner just
described; Figure 10 is a vertical section of a portion of the same; Figure 11
is a view of the grate post fitted with a bolt as described.
A is a rod extending down the post at top, it is connected to links carrying
semaphore arms a, a, for day, and glasses b, b, with colored lights for night;
B is a socket united to the rod A and free to move in the space from c. to d

page_text: the lower end of the rod A is united to a crank D, to which a wire or rod is
attached running to the inner crank of the turnstile. As the train passes over
the treadle it by means of the wire pulls the crank D, which draws down the
rod A, and with it the socket B, at the same time the arms a, a, are raised,
and the gates having opened the bolt G flies into the socket and is locked,
on the wire being released the rod rises and the parts return to their original
position.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I do not limit myself
to the precise mechanical details herein-before described for carrying this
my Invention into effect, as other mechanical equivalents might be employed
without departing from the essential features of my Invention, but I claim,-
First, the improvements in machinery or apparatus for opening and closing,
locking and unlocking cart and other gates on railway level crossings by the
action of a passing train, substantially in manner herein-before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Second, the employment of a distance signal or signals to indicate to
the drivers of trains whether the gates are opened or closed, the said signal
or signals being constructed and acting substantially in manner herein-before
described.
Third, the, employment of a signal at the gates for showing whether the
roadway is clear to foot passengers, vehicles, or to trains, and at the same time
for locking and unlocking the cart gates, all substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Daws, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Seventh day of August, One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-seven.