IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMBINED WORKING OF RAILWAY SWITCHES AND SIGNALS AND IN APPLIANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH, THE SAID
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Paul Prince of the town and County of Derby Engineer,
Superintendant of the Midland Railway Company's Signal Department
(temporarily of the London and Provincial Patent Agency) for an Invention
of" IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMBINED WORKING OF RAILWAY SWITCHES AND
SIGNALS AND IN APPLIANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH, THE SAID IMPROVEMENTS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Paul Prince at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd August 1882.
PAUL PRINCE of the town and County of Derby Engineer, Superintendent of
the Midland Railway Company's Signal Department (temporarily of the London
and Provincial Patent Agency) IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMBINED WORKING OF
RAILWAY SWITCHES AND SIGNALS AND IN APPLIANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH
THE SAID IMPROVEMENTS BEING SPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THE FACING POINTS
OF JUNCTIONS
This invention relates to improvements in safety appliances connected with
facing points and signals by the use of which facing points are rendered less
dangerous as in the event of the failure of the points to act properly it is
impossible to lower the signal for a train to pass over them.
This invention consists of improved safety appliances connected with facing
points and signals which will prevent a signal being lowered for a train to pass
over the points unless the said points are absolutely in their proper position the
said safety appliances being in addition to and working independent of the rods
actuating the points and independent of and in addition to the ordinary inter-
locking between the point lever and the signal lever in the locking frame, and
being worked without an additional lever in the locking frame by which a great
saving of time is effected where a number of switches are worked from the same
cabin, and the liability of the signalman to err is consequently reduced.

page_text: "
One method of carrying into effect my invention, at the facing points of a
junction of a main line and a branch line, is to fit to the pair of switch or tongue
rails a rod (hereinafter called the switch rod) which is cranked to pass under the
rail, this rod is slotted and works in a guide on a foundation plate fixed on the
sleepers or otherwise; to each of the cranks or levers which actuate the "main'
and "Branch signals is connected a rod (hereinafter called the main rod and the
branch rod) which extends to and slides in guides at right angles to the switch rod,
the two guides and the main and branch rods are so placed in relation to the
slotted switch rod that when the points are in position for the train to pass along
the main line, the main signal rod can then-and then only-be shot into the slot in
the switch rod, and when the points are in position for the train to pass on to the
Branch line the branch signal rod can then-and then only-be shot into the slot
in the switch rod and unless the main rod can be shot into the slot the main signal
cannot be lowered from danger point and so likewise with the branch rod and
Branch signal
It is obvious that modifications in the above described appliances can be made
without departing from the essential feature of this invention which is an
additional locking apparatus without an additional lever in the locking frame

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Paul Prince in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd February
1883.
PAUL PRINCE of the Town and County of Derby Engineer Superintendant of
the Midland Railway Companys Signal Department (temporarily of the London
and Provincial Patent Agency). "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMBINED WORKING
OF RAILWAY SWITCHES AND SIGNALS AND IN APPLIANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH,
THE SAID IMPROVEMENTS BEING SPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THE FACING POINTS OF
JUNCTIONS
"
This invention relates to improvements in safety appliances connected with
facing points and signals by the use of which facing points are rendered less
dangerous as in the event of the failure of the points to act properly it is
impossible to lower the signal for a train to pass over them.
This Invention consists of improved safety appliances connected with facing
points and signals which will prevent a signal being lowered for a train to pass
over the facing points unless the said points are absolutely in their proper position
the said safety applicances being in addition to and working irrespective of the rods
actuating the points and irrespective of and in addition to the ordinary inter-
locking between the point lever and the signal lever in the locking frame and
being worked without any additional lever in the locking frame.
One method of carrying into effect my Invention at the facing Points of a
junction of a main line and a branch line is to fit to the pair of switch or tongue
rails a Rod (hereinafter called the switch rod) which is cranked to pass under the
rail this rod is slotted and works in a guide on a foundation plate fixed on the
sleepers or otherwise. To each of the cranks or levers which actuate the
"Main" and "Branch" signals is connected a rod (hereinafter called the Main
signal rod and the Branch signal rod) which extends to and slides in a guide at
right angles to the switch rod; The two Guides for the Main and Branch
signal rods are so placed that when the points are in position for the train to pass
along the Main line the main signal rod can then and then only be shot into the
slot in the switch rod and when the points are in position for the Train to pass on
to the Branch line, the Branch signal rod can then and then only be shot into the
slot in the switch rod and unless the "Main Signal rod can be shot in the slot,
the "Main signal" cannot be lowered and so likewise with the "Branch Signal
rod" and " Signal."
"
"
The accompanying two sheets of drawings illustrate my Invention Sheet 1
shows my Invention applied to an ordinary Junction. A A A² are the rods
connecting the "points or "switches" with the "point lever" in the Signal Box,
B is the switch rod connected to the points or switches having one slot therein so
placed that when the "points" are set for the train to pass from the Main to the
Branch line that is from Y to Z-the said slot in the rod B is opposite the safety
rod D and the said safety rod D can enter as the signal protecting the branch
line Z is being lowered and unless the "points"-with the rod B-are absolutely
in their proper position the safety rod D will not enter the slot and the said signal
cannot be lowered to allow a train to pass. The drawing shows the points and
signal rods (and signal) in position for a train to pass from Y to Z or from the
"Main" to the "Branch" line. To reverse the position of the points and signals
the safety rod D is withdrawn from the slotted rod B being moved in the direction
of the arrows this movement placing the signal connected with it at danger the
point rods A A' A-which are connected to the point lever in the signal box in
the ordinary manner-are then moved in the direction of the arrows thus bringing
the slot in the rod B opposite the safety rod E and the safety rod E will be moved

page_text: in the direction of the arrows and will enter the slot in the rod B this movement
lowering the signal connected with it by this operation the Branch (Z) signal will
be raised and the main line (X) Signal will be lowered, the points being now
absolutely in their proper position to allow a train to pass along the main line from
Y to X. The safety rods D and E will be connected to the Main and Branch signals
by wires or rods C in the ordinary manner.
Sheet 2 of the accompanying drawings illustrates my Invention as applied to a
"loop" on a single line of Railway (the same being applicable to all facing points
on single lines that are too far from the signal box to be worked from it) the facing
points at each end being too far from the signal box to be worked from it. The
train running from right to left takes the course indicated by the arrows from T
to W and the train running from left to right takes the course indicated by the
arrows from S to V.
The points or switches at each end are weighted in the ordinary manner to lie
in the position in which the train should run and the position of the points or
switches is indicated by the signal which is worked in conjunction with the safety
appliance described in reference to Sheet 1 that is to say a slotted switch rod B is
connected to the "switches" or "points" and works in a guide and unless the said
switches or points are absolutely in their proper position the safety rod D cannot
enter the slot and the signal-which is connected thereto by the wire or
rod C-cannot be lowered. By this arrangement facing points to loop lines
etcetera can be placed at a greater distance from the signal box-with safety-than
is now the case.
I wish it to be understood that I make no claim to any arrangement of
mechanism in which the "bolt locking" of the "points" or "switches" is done by
one lever and the signal (worked in connection with the said points or switches) is
actuated by another lever.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the object and nature of my
said Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used and carried
into effect by those skilled in the art to which it refers, I would observe in
conclusion that what consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the
Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is :-
Firstly, Improvements in the combined working of Railway switches or points
and Signals and in appliances connected therewith the said improvements being
specially applicable to facing points and consisting of an arrangement of mechanisin
by which the signal is actuated and the points "bolt locked" by the movement of
one and the same lever substantially as hereinbefore specified and described.
Secondly The arrangement and combination of mechanism applicable to an
ordinary junctions substantially as herein before described in reference to Sheet 1
of the accompanying drawings in which the safety rod D for "bolt locking" and
the signal connected therewith is actuated by one and the same lever.
Thirdly The arrangement and combination of mechanism applicable to a loop of
a single line of Railway as hereinbefore described in reference to sheet 2 of the
drawings in which the safety rod D for "bolt locking" and the signal connected
there with are actuated by one and the same lever.
In witness whereof I the said Paul Prince have hereunto set my hand and
seal this First day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
PAUL PRINCE (L.S.)