Improvements in Apparatus for Working Railway Points and Signals by Electric Power.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1807
Complete Specification Left, 14th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1898
Date of Applicat
Complete Specification Left. 14th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Working Railway Points and Signals
by Electric Power.
We, FRANCIS WILLIAM WEBB, of Chester Place, Crewe, in the County of Chester,
Mechanical Engineer, and ARTHUR MOORE THOMPSON, of Holly Bank, Crewe, in
the County of Chester, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to certain improvements in the parts, and in the combina-
tion of the parts of apparatus for the working of points and signals on railways
by electric power, and in order that the nature of these improvements may be the
more readily understood we describe them by the aid of the accompanying diagram,
Sheet 1.
A is a number of point and signal levers in a frame which may be described as
an ordinary interlocking frame in miniature. Two rows of levers, one above the
other, are by preference employed, to economise space, B is a rod attached at one
end to the tail piece of one of the point levers in the frame, the other end being
attached to a crank C which actuates the tappet C¹ in connection with the well
known system of mechanical interlocking called tappet locking. A rod D is an
extension of the rod B and it is attached to an electric switch E, the carbon con-
tacts of which are so arranged that no current passes when the lever is in its
normal or pulled-over position, but when the lever is pulled over or put back
through about 2/3rds of its stroke a current of electricity passes through the
switch. Attached to the rod D is an extension rod F which is carried down to a
so-called check lock G; this check lock consists of two electro magnets and arma-
tures and it permits the rod and the lever to move through about 2/3rds of their
full stroke when one of two projections on the rod comes in contact with a stud
formed with the armature of one of the electro magnets. This magnet has to be
energised by an electric current before the armature is drawn away to allow the
projection on the rod to pass when the stroke of the lever may be completed. One
magnet q' is employed to check the movement of the lever when it is being pulled
over, and the other magnet q to similarly check its movement when it is being
put back. H is an electro motor provided with the usual commutator and with
carbon brushes, the movement of the motor being reversed by the reversal of
the electric current through the armature. On the shaft of the armature is a
worm I which gears with a worm wheel K. On the worm wheel K is formed a
slot L, in this slot a roller works fixed on one end of the lever M, the other end of
this-lever being attached by a rod to the point switch N. In case the points are
provided with a facing point lock and locking bar these are worked by means of
another worm and worm wheel O and lever P, this gearing being similar to the
point gearing with the exception that the contour of the slot in the worm wheel
is different. Q is a switch box containing a number of switches with carbon con-
tacts actuated by the detector rods R S attached to the switch, and to a detector rod T

page_text: attached to the facing point locking bolt rod U. V is an electric accumulator or
dynamo giving current of a pressure of preferably 110 volts, or the pressure usually
employed for electric lighting. W is a signal lever, X a rod joining this lever with
the tappet locking and with a switch X. wis an electro magnet by means of which
the signal is worked, is a switch with carbon contacts, y is a resistance
frame. The interlocking of the signal and point levers is as has been explained
mechanical and carried out in the usual well-known way, but in miniature form.
at m.
We will now assume that a point lever and a signal lever has to be worked.
The point lever pulled over through about 2/3rds of its stroke when the check
magnet q arrests its further progress, the electric current now leaves the battery
or dynamo at a passes to b through the field magnet coils of the motor to c and to
the carbon stop & of the switch E. The switch having been moved from its normal
position by the movement of the lever the carbon block e attached to the rod D
bridges the carbon blocks d and g and the carbon block f bridges the carbon
blocks h and i, consequently the current passes from d to g to k through the
armature to to carbon block i through f to the block h back to the accumulator
A shunt current in the position of the points as shewn on the diagram
would proceed by n through the switch of the locking plunger o and through the
detector switch 2 to the magnet q and back to m, but the lever has to be released
by the magnet q¹ consequently the points must be moved over before any further
movement of the lever can take place. Assuming the points have now been
worked over by the electro motor the shunt current will pass by n through o
through to the magnet q¹ to m thus releasing the point lever, the stroke of which
can now be completed. In the case of the signal the lever is pulled over at once
and the current leaves the accumulator at a passes to the carbon blocks of the
switch Y; the switch being pulled over it passes through the block t attached to
rod X to block u to the detector v on the points to the electro magnet w and through
switch back to m. As soon as the signal is lowered the switch a is moved and
the current instead of going direct to m passes through the resistance y which
reduces the current required for holding the signal down to about two amperes.
In putting the signal to danger the lever is simply put back the holding off current
cut off and the signal arm moved to its danger position by gravity. In putting
the point lever back it is moved through two-thirds of its stroke when the check
magnet arrests its further movement and the switch is in such a position that
the blocks e and f bridge h and g and d and z. The current now leaves a to b
through the field coils as before to c to d through the carbon block e to z to i to 1,
'thus passing through the motor brushes in the contrary direction to g through
the carbon block f to h and to m. As soon as the points are moved back again to
the position shewn on the diagram a shunt current will pass from n to o to p
through the check magnet q to m, the check magnet q being energised the move-
ment of the lever may be completed.
DJ TELL 1
exc
1007
Improvements in Apparatus for Working Railway Points and Signals
by Electric Power.
We, FRANCIS WILLIAM WEBB, of Chester Place, Crewe, in the County of Chester,
Mechanical Engineer, and ARTHUR MOORE THOMPSON, of Holly Bank, Crewe, in

page_text: the County of Chester, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus for working railway
points and signals by electric power.
We will describe our invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
aud the figures and letters marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a front elevation and Figure 2 is a side elevation of an interlocked
switch frame constructed in accordance with our invention by means of which the
electric current is directed from the source of its supply to the several motors and
magnets for actuating the points and signals. We employ two tiers or series of
levers for point and signal movements respectively preferably arranged one above
the other to economize space. a represents the upper tier or series
of levers and 6 represents the lower tier or series of levers, the
upper tier or series being preferably used for point movements and the
lower tier or series for signal movements. c and d are tail pieces respectively
attached to the levers a and b, and e are rods connecting these tail pieces to one
arm of a bell crank lever f, the other arm of which lever f is attached to the
actuating dart of the well-known 'system of mechanical locking known as "tappet
locking." We prefer this system of locking, but any other well-known or suitable
system may be substituted. The rods e are prolonged beyond the bell-crank
lever and attached to electric switches g, hereinafter more fully described. Such
f
of the rods e as are to actuate point levers are each connected to the slide of a
"check lock" h hereinafter more fully described.
and
Figure 3 is a front elevation and Figure 4 is a side elevation of the switch
of the check lock h. e² is a rod connecting the switch to the rode attached to
the tail of a point lever. Sliding through an enlarged portion of, or yoke in, the
rode and insulated from it are four metal plungers 91, 92, 93, 9; at one end of
each of which plungers is a contact block (which should be of carbon) and at
the other end is a spiral spring 96 which keeps the plungers pressed in the direction
of the said contact blocks. The contact blocks 95 and plungers slide with the
movement of the rode the said contact blocks rubbing against the faces of
contact blocks g7 3, 4, 9, 8 (which should also be of carbon) carried on metal
jaws which are secured to a plate of insulating material 99, and slide in metal
clips 90 insulated from, and carried by, the main framing of the apparatus, the
said clips g10 being provided with terminal screws gl, g12, 913, 91, to which are
attached the wires leading out to the point motors. By this arrangement of jaws
and clips a faulty switch can be readily and easily removed and a new switch
substituted without disarranging the wires attached to the terminal screws. This
removal is facilitated by the switch rode e being provided with hook attach-
ments g which connect the switch rod e² with the rod e to the tail of the lever,
and in the case of the point levers, the rod to the check lock. The plungers g¹, g²,
are in metallic connection so that an electric current passes freely between them,
similarly the plungers g³, g', are in metallic connection, but the plungers g¹, g², are
insulated from the plungers g, . The plungers are constructed in pairs to
ensure a better contact between them and the contact blocks 97 3, 4, 9, 8 over
which they slide.
Figure 5 is a section through the block 8, jaws 98, insulating plate g³, clip 910
and terminal screw g¹¹.
Figure 6 shews the switch attached to the rod e in connection with a signal
lever. The construction of this switch is the same as the point switch herein-
before described except of course that it has fewer contact blocks as shewn.
h, Figures 3 and 4, is the check lock, h¹ is a slide attached to, and moving with,
the rod e, e2; h2, h3, are projections formed on the slide h¹; h, h³, are two electro-
magnets; ho, h, are armatures which are attracted by the electro-magnets when
they are energised by an electric current; the springs h³, h³, causing the armatures

page_text: to return to their normal position when not attracted by the electro-magnets.
The action of this check lock is as follows: if the rod e e² be raised by the move-
ment of one of the point levers a, Figure 2, the projection h³ strikes the projecting
end of the pole piece of the armature 7, when the lever a has made about two-
thirds of its stroke and it is prevented from moving further until an electric
current is passed through the coil of the electro-magnet whereupon the arma-
ture his attracted and drawn clear of the projection h³, and then the movement
of the lever a can be completed. When the lever a is put back again, the pro-
jecting piece 2 strikes the projecting end of the armature h6 and the lever a
cannot be fully put back until an electric current is passed through the coil h³
of the electro-magnet whereupon the armature his attracted, and drawn clear
of the projection ha thus allowing the full movement of lever a to be made. 110
is a switch attached to the slide h¹ which in the raised position of the slide makes
a contact which passes the electric current from the coil 5 of the electro-imagnet
to the negative pole of the source of electrical supply. In the lowered position
of the slide the contact is severed between the magnet coil, h5 and made between
the magnet coil and the negative pole of the source of electrical supply.
0
Figure 7 is an end elevation, Figure 8 a side elevation, and Figure 9 a plan,
with the outer casing in each case in section, of the motor and mechanism for
working a point. In these figures a¹ is the electro-motor field magnet; 6* the
motor armature; c the motor commutator; d is the motor shaft, which is squared
where it passes through the armature, which is formed with a squared hole and
slipped over the square on the shaft and prevented from rising by the bearing e*
on the cover plate. Therefore when the cover plate is removed the armature can
be readily lifted out and a new armature at once substituted in case of failure.
The motor shaft d is also squared at f* and on the square the worm g³ is placed
provided with ball bearings at the top and bottom. * are bearings for the
shaft is a worm wheel, provided with a wide boss the end faces of which
are formed with indentations with which engage clutches. One side of this boss
is sufficiently long to pass through the bearing k which supports the worm wheel.
I is the. worm wheel shaft on which the worm wheel is free to turn; m, n, are the
aforesaid clutches which slide on squares formed on the shaft, these clutches are
made right and left handed so that if the worm wheel be turned in one direction
the clutch m is engaged and turns the shaft, say to the right, if turned in the
contrary direction the clutch n is engaged and turns the shaft say to the left.
is a cam wheel which is fitted to a square on the shaft 7 and turns with it. On
the periphery of the said cam wheel is a cam-shaped projection p which actuates
the sliding bar q at the completion of each revolution of the cam wheel, driving
it to the right in one direction of its rotation and to the left in the other direction.
r are levers which communicate the movement of the sliding bar g to the
clutches m, n; these levers are provided with spiral springs which cause the
clutches m, n to press against the two faces of the worm wheel boss. On each
face of the cam wheel o is formed a cam groove of an irregular contour shewn more
clearly in Figures 10 and 11, Figure 10 shewing the cam groove on one side of
the wheel for actuating the locking bar and bolt of a facing-point, the contour of
the said cam groove being such that if it be turned in the direction of the arrow
through a quarter of a circle it moves the bell crank levers to the position s¹.
No further movement of the levers takes place until the cam wheel has turned
through three quarters of its revolution, when a further movement of the lever s
takes place and it reaches the position s2, when the cam wheel has completed its
revolution. Figure 11 shews the cam groove on the other side of the wheel which
cam groove is for actuating the points. In this case the said cam groove is of
such a contour that no movement of the lever takes place during the first
quarter of the revolution of the cam wheel but in its succeeding half revolution
the said lever is moved over. to whilst during the last quarter revolution no 5
movement takes place. By these means in one revolution of the cam wheel the

page_text: bolt securing the facing-points is withdrawn, then the points are moved over,
and finally, the bolt is re-shot and the points locked.
The action of the point motor is as follows:-Figure 8 shews the position of
the several parts of the motor when the points are pulled over and locked, say for
the branch line. When it is desired to move the points over for the main line,
an electric current is passed through the armature in a direction opposite to that
for the last movement and it revolves at the arranged speed, (say 800 revolutions
a minute,) the clutches m and n are both engaged with the worm wheel, 1, and if
the right hand clutch be the driving clutch, the worm wheel, clutches, shaft, and
cam wheel, turn one revolution, but shortly before the complete revolution is
made the cam-shaped projection p on the cam wheel o moves the sliding bar q,
say to the left, Figure 9, and disengages the right hand clutch n.
clutch is disengaged the worm wheel is freed from the shaft and the motor
worm and worm wheel run free until the current is cut off, no further movement
being imparted to the cam wheel o.
When this
Figure 12 is a diagram shewing a facing-point and its mechanical and electrical
fittings. a is a locking bar which may be of the ordinary construction, 61 is the
three-way crank for working the said bar and the bolt-lock c¹, which bolt-lock
is provided with two locking bolts d and d', as shewn in Figure 13. The upper
bolt d enters a slot in the upper edge of the stretcher rod e", Figure 12, and the
lower bolt d enters a slot in the lower face of the said stretcher rod. The upper
bolt is, in Figure 12, shewn locking the points. When the points are pulled over
the lower bolt will lock the points, the bolt entering the slot f¹. The three-way
crank 61 is worked by a rod 62 and bell crank 63 the rod being attached to the
detector bolt 9, which is connected by a rod with the bell-crank s actuated by
the cam wheel o, Figure 10. The said bolt is of the same form as the bolt-lock cl
with upper and lower locks which enter slots in the upper and lower edges of two
detector rods, 2, 2, and its action is similar to that of the bolt c¹. Connected.
with the detector bolt g*, and working with it, is a lever which turns a spindle
in the switch box k; on which spindle is carried a feather piece with insulated.
metal pins 1, 2, which enter between two metal contact strips of the switches ³,
,,, and then close the electric circuits which pass through the strips. In
the diagram the circuits through 3, 4, are shewn closed, and the circuits through 5,
ke, open. The circuit through is the shunt circuit which passes from the electro-
motor to the check-lock, Figure 4, and that through is the circuit from the
signal switch, Figure 6, to the signal reading for the road for which the points
are shewn to be set. If the points be pulled over the switches 5, 6, will be closed,
being the check lock circuit switch and 6 being the signal circuit switch. If
the points have not gone fully over, or if any improper movement of either of the
point switches has taken place, the detector bolt ** will be obstructed and no
contact will be made for 3, 4, 5, 6, consequently the point lever in the cabin
cannot be pulled over due to the check magnet not being energized, and further
no current could be sent to the signal which would therefore remain at danger.
The rod working the points is connected to the bell-crank s actuated by the
cam wheel o, Figure 11.
Figure 14 shews the electro-magnet and switch we employ for working signals.
a is the electro-magnet which being of the well-known long pull type requires
no particular description. When energised the magnet lifts the lever 6**, and
rod 6 and, by means of the rod c², lowers the signal arm d*, e¹, ell are two switches
which are opened and closed by the movement of the lever 6. In the danger.
position of the signal arm, the switch e" is closed and an electric current will
pass from the source of supply f through the magnet coils and back direct to the
source of supply, the magnet a being thus energised the signal arm would be
lowered, the switch el opened and the switch e' closed. The current will now
pass through the magnet as before, through switch e¹ and a resistance ***, back
to the source of supply, this resistance reducing the current from about 15 amperes

page_text: to about-2 amperes or just sufficient to keep the magnet sufficiently energised to
hold the signal arm off.
r
Figure 15 is a diagram of the electric circuits for a signal and a facing-point.
a is a point lever, ga point lever switch, h check lock, b a signal lever, 11 a signal
lever switch, a battery of electric accumulators, 6 a point motor, a detector
switch, a signal magnet, and e¹ el a signal switch. When the lever a is pulled
over to reverse the position of the points, it is pulled as far as the check lock will
admit, and an electric current leaves the accumulator at 1 passes through the field
magnet coil a of the motor to 2; to the switch terminal 3, to the switch terminal 4,
(terminals 3 and 4 being bridged by the lower carbon block 95 on the slide g,)
then to the motor brush 5 to 6 of the commutator to the switch terminal 8 to 9,
(terminal 8 and 9 being bridged by the upper carbon block on slide g.) and
then to 10, the negative pole of the battery: The switch ¹ having moved over with
the points, a shunt current leaves 2 passes to the switch terminal 3 to the check
magnet coil to 21 through the check magnet switch h¹0 to 10. The check magnet
coil his thus energised which permits the movement of the lever a to be com-
pleted.
Only one signal is shewn on the diagram reading for the road for which the
points are shewn set. The signal lever b is pulled over and the switch carbon 11
bridges the carbons 12, 13. A current passes from the battery at 1 to 12 passes
through 11 to 13, to the detector switch 3, to the signal magnet a", through the
signal switch contact ell to 10, the negative pole of the battery. The signal arm
having been lowered the signal switch contact ell is opened, the signal switch
contact el closed and the current passes through e through the resistance 9***
to 10 the negative pole of the battery. In practice the return signal wires from
contact e¹¹ to 10, and e¹ to 10, may be 'common returns for several signals.
Having now particularly described and ascertained- the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we do not claim an
electric motor for working points or an electro-magnet for working signals, but
what we do claim is:-
1. An interlocked switch apparatus constructed or arranged substantially as
and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated more particularly in
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
2. An electric motor, worn and worm wheel and cam wheel constructed or
arranged and combined substantially as and for the purpose herein before described
and illustrated more particularly in Figures 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the accompanying
drawings.
3. A point switch, and signal switch constructed substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated more particularly in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the accom-
panying drawings.
4. A check lock constructed and operated substantially as herein before described
and illustrated more particularly in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying
drawings.
5. The arrangement and combination of detector lock, detector lock switches
and locking bar for a set of points substantially as herein before described and illus-
trated in Figures 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings.
6. In an apparatus for working railway points and signals by electric power,
the combination of an interlocked lever frame, an electric switch with contacts
as described, an electric motor for working points, a magnet for working signals,
and a point detector lock with electric switches, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
7. In an apparatus for working railway points by electric power, the combination
of an electric motor, worm and worm wheel, and a cam movement wheel, substan-
tially as described and illustrated by Figures 7 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.
8. The arrangement and combination of parts as a whole constituting apparatus

page_text: for working railway points and signals by electric power substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 14th day of February 1898
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.