Improvements in and connected with Railway Signalling Apparatus.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 16th May, 1891-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Railway Signalling
Apparatus.
I, JAMES PHILIP ANNETT of The Elms," Eastleigh Southampton in the
County of Hampshire, Signal Superintendent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to working switch points, as for example cross over
roads or siding points (but facing points may be operated similarly) in conjunction
with the disc signals referring to the said switch points. At the present time it is
the usual practice say for example with a cross over road leading from a siding to
a passenger line to either provide disc signals working with the switches of the
crossing or to provide an independent disc for operations from the siding to the
passenger line the latter disc being operated by an independent lever in the signal
cabin. The former of course are simply operated by the switches. It is obvious
that in the first case no protection whatever is afforded as when the switch points
are moved the discs are shown all clear" for movements in both directions.
Again in the latter case for a movement from the passenger road back into the
siding as a rule no indication is given whatever.
·
The object then of my invention is to arrange that the same lever which operates
the switch points shall also operate a disc at either end of the crossing, but shall
so work that under no circumstances can both discs be off at once, that is to say
that an authorized movement can be given in one direction only at one time.
It is therefore provided for that when the signal is given the points themselves
are locked.
I carry out my invention in the following manner :-I arrange a lever in the
locking apparatus in the signal cabin having its normal position midway in the
segment so that it can be pushed back to perform one operation and pulled forward
to perforin another operation. Attached to the said lever is the usual downright
connection, but in place of the usual pedestal crank I arrange at the end of the
downright rod a flat blade in which is cut a V slot with a slot projection at either
end, and in the said slot is a stud or friction roller attached to the horizontal rod
connection which operates the points. The stud or friction roller attached to the
horizontal connecting rod is normally in the middle of the V slot in the vertical
rod. The actuating horizontal rod is run to the points in the usual manner.
The wire of one disc is connected to the back tail of the operating lever in the
signal cabin and the wire of the other is connected to the front tail. The stretcher
bars are prolonged from both of the switch points and slides worked by the signal
wires are arranged to cross them or pass through them so as to lock the points and
also to prevent the working of the signals unless the points are home.
The action of my invention is as follows:-
When the signalman wishes to give authority say for shunting back from the
main to the siding or main line cross over road, he moves his operating lever in the
signal box from the middle position backward or forward as the case may be he
gives a motion on the downright rod in which the V slot is provided (which I shall
hereinafter call motion plate) to the extent of forcing the stud or roller attached
to the horizontal rod, along the diagonal slot until it comes into the straight
portion of the slot and by that means the points are operated; the same action
also pulls the wire and operates the signal for that direction and locks the points on
the main line.
In order that a movement may take place from the siding to the main, when the
lever is placed normal it is moved from the middle position forward, an upwarḍ

page_text: movement is given to the downright rod and the motion plate and a similar
action takes place with the horizontal rod travelling along the second diagonal
slot forming the V until the roller or pin works into the straight portion of the
slot. By, this action the points are again worked and the signal is given for a
movement to take place from the siding to the main line. The siding points are
also locked by means of the before mentioned blade which crosses or passes through
the projection of the stretcher bar.
It is obvious that the hereinbefore described invention is particularly applicable
to the working of any signals that refer to any points, that is to say that the facing
point lever of an ordinary junction may operate the facing points and work the two
facing signals, the action of operating the signals by their wires locking the points
and detecting their action.
Again the action of the trailing point lever at the junction may operate the
trailing points and also the trailing signals.
My invention is therefore applicable to the working of signals that refer to the
same pair of points by the same lever that operates the points.
my
It is obvious of course that if for instance in the case of a subsidiary locking
frame or if by any reason the downright rods are not required for operating points,
that is to say, if the horizontal rod is actuated direct off the lever that motion
plate takes the place of the horizontal crank usually fixed in front of the signal box
or ground frame, and that the action of the lever is direct on to the horizontal
connections, the signal connections being as before described actuated so that the
movement of the lever backward operates one signal and the movement of the lever
forward operates the other, the same connections being fixed at the switches as
hereinbefore described, to insure that the signals cannot be operated unless the
respective points are home.
Dated this 1st day of November 1890
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
2, Great George Street, Westminster, London, S. W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Railway Signalling
Apparatus.
I, JAMES PHILIP ANNETT of "The Elms," Eastleigh, Southampton in the
County of Hampshire, Signal Superintendent, 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 :-
My invention has reference to working switch points, as for example cross-over
roads or siding points (but facing points may be operated similarly) in conjunction
with the disc signals relating to the said switch points. At the present time it is
the usual practice say for example with a cross-over road leading from a siding to
a passenger line to either provide disc signals working with the switches of the
crossing or to provide an independent disc for operations from the siding to the
passenger line the latter disc being operated by an independent lever in the signal
cabin. The former of course are simply operated by the switches. It is obvious
that in the first case no protection whatever is afforded as when the switch points
are moved the discs are shown "all clear" for movements in both directions.
Again in the latter case for a movement from the passenger road back into the
siding as a rule no indication is given whatever. The object then of my invention
is to arrange that the same lever which operates the switch points shall also operate
a disc at either end of the crossing, but shall so work that under no circumstances
¡can both discs be off at once, that is to say that an authorized movement can be
given in one direction only at one time.

page_text: It is therefore provinca LOT that when the signal is given the points themselves
are locked.
I
carry out my invention in the following manner :-
I arrange a lever in the locking apparatus in the signal cabin having its normal
position midway in the segment so that it can be pushed back to perform one
operation and pulled forward to perform another operation.
Attached to the said lever is the usual downright connection, but in place of the
usual pedestal crank I arrange at the end of the downright rod a flat blade in which
is cut a V slot with a slot projection at either end, and in the said slot is a stud or
friction roller attached to the horizontal rod connection which operates the points.
The stud or friction roller attached to the horizontal connecting rod is normally in
the middle of the V slot in the vertical rod. The actuating horizontal rod is
run to the points in the usual manner.
The wire of one disc is connected to the back tail of the operating lever in
the signal cabin and the wire of the other is connected to the front tail. The
stretcher bars are prolonged from both of the switch points and slides worked
by the signal wires are arranged to cross them or pass through them so as to
lock the points and also to prevent the working of the signals unless the points
are home."
The action of my invention is as follows:-
When the signalman wishes to give authority say for shunting back from the
main to the siding or main line cross over road, he moves his operating lever
in the signal box from the middle position backward (or forward as the case
may be), he gives a motion on the downright rod in which the V slot is provided
(which I shall hereinafter call motion plate) to the extent of forcing the stud
or roller attached to the horizontal rod, along the diagonal slot until it comes
into the straight portion of the slot and by that means the points are operated;
the same action also pulls the wire and operates the signal for that direction
and locks the points on the main line.
In order that a movement may take place from the siding to the main, when the
lever is placed normal it is moved from the middle position forward, a downward
movement is given to the downright rod and the motion plate and a similar action
takes place with the horizontal rod travelling along the second diagonal slot forming
the Vuntil the roller or pin works into the straight portion of the slot. By this
action the points are again worked and the signal is given for a movement to take
place from the siding to the main line. The siding points are also locked by means
of the before mentioned blade which crosses or passes through the projection of the
stretcher bar.
It is obvious of course that if for instance in the case of a subsidiary locking
frame or if by any reason the downright rods are not required for operating points,
that is to say if the horizontal rod is actuated direct off the lever, that my motion
plate takes the place of the horizontal crank usually fixed in front of the signal
box or ground frame and that the action of the lever is direct on to the horizontal
connections, the signal connections being as before described actuated so that the
movement of the lever backward operates one signal and the movement of the lever
forward operates the other, the same connections being fixed at the switches as
herein before described to ensure that the signals cannot be operated unless the
respective points are home.
In order that my said invention may be better understood and readily carried
into effect I will describe the drawing hereunto annexed.
The same letters refer to the same parts or substitutes therefore in the several
figures of the drawing.
Figure 1 illustrates a lever in an interlocking apparatus in the normal middle
position. Connected to the left hand tail (for the purpose of illustration as
it may be connected to the right hand tail) in the drawing is shown a downright
rod a connected to a motion plate 6; is the upper straight portion of the slot ;
the upper diagonal portion of the slot; the middle portion in which the

page_text: friction roller is when the lever is normal; is the lower diagonal slot; 6³ the
lower straight slot; c is the friction roller attached to the blades d through which
the points are operated; e is a link connecting the said blades d to a cross bar f;
is the connecting rod to the points.
Figure 2 illustrates a diagram of either an up and down road connected by a
cross-over road, or a siding and a main line or any similar pairs of metals connected
by a crossing. Two discs and j authorize movements through the crossing, h in
one direction and in the other; is a prolongation from the stretcher bar; is a
blade in the wire operating the disc ; a similar blade or substituted contrivance
is arranged in connection with the signal j and the switch points referring to it.
Figure 3 illustrates my invention when fixed in substitution of the horizontal
crank.
Figure 4 illustrates a modification of Figure 1 but without the cross bar f. In
order that the rod in Figure 4 may be on the same level as y Figure 1, which is
supposed to be the usual level for point rods leading out of a signal box, the motion
plate works into a small pit, otherwise the figures are identical in working. For
working discs and points such as are illustrated in Figure 2 my arrangements as
shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4 are applicable, there being in all cases a V slot in the
plate, the action of the lever either forward or backward operating the points the
same action in the one case operating one signal and in the other case operating
the other.
In all cases of discs and the points nearest to them it can be so arranged that
the discs cannot be lowered unless the points are home, by any of the known means,
and I do not claim any novelty in connection with detecting the action of the disc,
only in combination with the motion plate.
In Figure the wire t to operate one disc is connected to the one tail of the
lever and the wire to operate the other is connected to the other tail of the lever.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. In railway signalling apparatus the employment of one lever in an interlocking
apparatus moving from a normal middle position forward and thereby operating a
pair of switch points and the signal in connection therewith, and again from the
normal middle position backward operating the same switch points but a different
signal, substantially in the manner set forth and for the purposes described.
2. In railway signalling apparatus for the purposes of working points and signals
a vertical double motion plate substantially as described with reference
to Figures 1 and 4 of the drawing annexed.
3. In railway signalling apparatus for the purposes of working points and signals
a horizontal double motion plate worked direct off the lever by a horizontal rod
substantially as described with reference to Figure 3 of the drawing annexed.
Dated this 16th day of May 1891.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
2, Great George Street, Westminster, London, S.W.,
Agent for the Applicant.