IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO AND USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING RAILWAY POINTS AND POINT LOCKING APPARATUS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Johnson of Eccles in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO AND USED IN
CONJUNCTION WITH APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING RAILWAY POINTS AND POINT
LOCKING APPARATUS
"3
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th December 1882.
HENRY JOHNSON of Eccles in the County of Lancaster, Engineer
" IMPROVE-
MENTS APPLICABLE TO AND USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING
RAILWAY POINTS AND POINT LOCKING APPARATUS.'
"
My invention relates firstly to such facing points used on railways as are
provided with what are known as point-locking apparatus, such apparatus securing
or locking the before named' points when placed in a suitable position for directing
a railway train along the main line or causing the said train to be turned from
the said main line on to a branch line, and consists in arrangements whereby I
prevent accidents to railway trains arising from such facing points being locked in
a position contrary to that intended by the person operating such points aforesaid
as may arise from rods or other apparatus through which such points aforesaid
are actuated becoming injured or broken.
For this purpose I use a spring or springs or a weight or weights acting upon
the movable rails or tongues constituting such points aforesaid, in such manner
that when the rods or other connections by which such points aforesaid are
actuated become injured or severed, the said movable rails or tongues shall be
forced away from the stock or fixed rails so as to occupy a position intermediate
to those which they occupy when in position for directing a train along the main
line or on to the branch line. Such forcing of the aforesaid movable rails or tongues
to the intermediate position aforesaid preventing the point lock bolt or apparatus
which retains the points in their position for directing the railway train along the
main line or along the branch line, from passing into the usual slots or apertures by
which the said said points are locked and thereby intimating to the person operating
Duins 71

page_text: .
the points aforesaid that they are not in a correct position by preventing the lever
which actuates the point locking apparatus from being pulled completely over and
also thereby putting it out of the power of such person to lower either the main
line or branch line signal until such defect has been remedied.
The second part of my invention refers to apparatus whereby I am enabled to
compensate for the longitudinal expansion and contraction (arising from variations
of atmospheric temperature) of the rods or bars by which railway points and point
locking apparatus are connected with the hand levers by which they are actuated.
For this purpose I form the aforesaid rods or bars in two portions and attach
thereto toothed racks in such manner that the rack upon one portion is in gear
with a pinion mounted upon a suitable stationary bracket which pinion is also in
gear with the rack upon the other portion of the said rods or bars. As the afore-
said rods or bars expand or contract in consequence of varying atmospheric
temperature, the aforesaid pinion is rotated by such expansion or contraction.
The aforesaid pinion also transmits motion from one portion of the before named
rods or bars to the other portion thereof when such rods or bars are acted upon by
the hand lever for moving the points or point locking apparatus.
1
Ad- 33"
ST

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th June
1883.
HENRY JOHNSON of Eccles in the County of Lancaster Engineer IMPROVE-
MENTS APPLICABLE TO AND USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING
'RAILWAY POINTS AND POINT LOCKING APPARATUS
l
My Invention relates firstly to such facing points used on railways as are
provided with what are known as point locking apparatus such apparatus securing
or locking the before named points when placed in a suitable position for directing
a railway train along the main line or causing the said train to be turned from the
'said main line on to a branch line and consists in arrangements whereby I prevent
accidents to railway trains arising from such facing 'points being locked in a
position contrary to that intended by the person operating such points aforesaid
as may arise from the rods or other apparatus through which such points are
actuated being broken or disarranged. In order that my invention may be fully
understood and, carried into effect I will now proceed to particularly describe the
same and for that purpose I shall refer to the several figures in the drawings
hereunto annexed-Fig.1 Sheet 1 shows so much of a railway facing point and
point locking apparatus as is requisite, to illustrate the first part of my invention
and as the action will be well, understood by persons conversant with such
appliances I shall only describe them in so far as will be requisite to explain my
invention At a. b. are sleepers to which by means of bolts are secured chairs c. d.
e. f supporting the stock or fixed rails g. h. Supported by and sliding upon the
chairs c. d. e. f are the tongues . k. of the point rails i. ke such point rails. i. k
being secured together by means of the cross stays l. m. Atm is the rod by means
of which the point rails i. k are actuated, one end n¹ of such rol being secured to
the point rail . the other end of such rod n being connected in any convenient
manner to the usual hand lever or other apparatus by which the facing points are
actuated At o is a bracket carrying a tube or guide p, (shewn in section) within
which and capable of being slidden longitudinally therein is a plunger or bar q
Attached to the point rails i. k are bars or rods. r. 8. the ends of which pass
through openings formed through the tube p-The bars or rods . 8. have
openings t. t formed therein, the opening t, only showing in the drawing, the
opening t¹ being occupied by the lock bolt or plunger q, through which openings t t¹
the plunger lock bolt or bar q may at certain times be passed. The plunger lock
bolt or bar q, bracket o tube p and bars r. s. constituting so much of what is known
as a facing point lock as is requisite to illustrate that part of my invention which
has reference to the locking of facing points-Secured to the stock or fixed
rails g. h by means of bolts u. v. w. x are springs y. (the stock or fixed
rails J. h being shown in section at this part) the ends of which springs are
within the path of the tongues of the point rail ik when the facing
points are opened or closed as will be hereinafter explained-In the position
of the point rails ik as shown a train passing along the stock or fixed rails g. h
from a point A in the direction of the arrow B the wheel passing along the rail h
would pass on to the point rail k, and so be directed on to the branch line or rails
I will now assume that it is desired to reverse the position of the facing points
from that shown-The person actuating the points will by means of the usual
hand lever operate the lock bar. 1 and draw the lock bolt or plunger q within the
tube.p in the direction of the arrow. C until its end is clear of the, aperture t
formed through the rods r. s. the point rails ik can then by means of the usual

page_text: :
hand lever and the rod n be traversed until the tongue ¹ of the point rail i
arrives in contact with the rail g after which the lock bar 1 may be reversed and
the lock bolt or plunger q passed through the aperture t in the rods or bars r. 8.
such aperture t having been brought into position for permitting the passage of
the lock bolt or plunger q by the previously described movement of the point
rails k. By the above described movement of the point rails i. the end 22 of
the point rail, will have arrived against one end of the spring and deflected
'it and the spring y, attached to the rod h which was previously deflected will have
been released. I will now suppose that the point rails i. and the facing point
lock have been again placed in the position shown in the drawing and that the
parts by which the hand lever usually actuates the points have become broken
or injured so that the person attempting to operate the points i. k by. moving the
hand lever in the usual way imparts little or no movement to the point rails i. .
Under such circumstances the person requiring to operate such points would
actuate the bar 1 and withdraw the lock bolt or plunger q in the direction of
the arrow C-Immediately upon the withdrawal of the lock bolt or plunger q
from the aperture t¹ formed through the bars 7, 8. the spring y would force the
point rails into a position such that neither the aperture t¹ nor the aperture t
would be opposite the end of the plunger or lock bolt q-The person intending to
actuate the facing points would then operate the lever for that purpose but the
connection between such lever and the point rails ik being disarranged little
or no effect would be produced on such points but the person aforesaid would not
be aware of this, but upon such person proceeding to operate the lock bolt or
plunger q it would be found that such lock bolt or plunger could not be operated,
which would indicate defective action of the points to the person operating such
apparatus and further would prevent the lowering of the signals applying to these
points because by the well known interlocking of the levers operating the facing
points, facing point.lock and signals; the signals cannot be lowered until the bolt
has been passed through one or other of the apertures tor t¹-I will now assume
that the point rails i. k have been moved so that the tongue of the point rail i,
is in contact with the rail so as to direct a train off the rails g. h. on to the
rails i. h. or main line-When it becomes desirable to again change the position of
the point rails . k into that shown in the drawing the person operating the
facing points will actuate the lock bar 1 and will withdraw the lock bolt or
plunger q from the aperture t;in the rods or bars r. 8. and should the rods or levers
acting upon the point rails i. k through the rod n have become broken or
disarranged the spring . will force forward the point rails i. k in the direction of
the arrow Da distance sufficient to prevent the lock bolt or plunger 9 from being
passed into either of the openings tt formed in the bars or rods r. 8. and so
intimate to the person attempting to operate the facing points that they have not
been moved to the required position and will also prevent the lowering of the
signals applying to such points-The springs y. z will require to be of such
strength that upon injury to or the breakage of the parts connecting the facing
points to the hand lever by which they are actuated the said springs will traverse
the points and the parts remaining attached thereto so as to carry the openings in
the rods or bars r. s'into a position in which the lock bolt or plunger q cannot
enter the openings t. By employing the springs y. as previously-described in
conjunction with the bars or rods ris. I prevent the lock bolt or plunger q from
being passed through the openings t. t formed in such bars or rods 7: 8 should the
cross rods l. m. connecting the tongues of the point rails ik become broken or
-injured as will be readily understood by persons conversant with such apparatus-
Fig: 2 Sheet 2. illustrates another method of carrying this part of my invention
into effect and to parts corresponding to those previously described in reference to
fig:1 Sheet 1-I shall affix similar letters of reference-At are the tongues of
the point rails. To the tongue i is attached one end of a spiral spring 2 the
other end of which is formed upon or secured to a part 3 capable of being slidden
through an opening formed in a projecting portion 4 formed upon a base plate 5
L

page_text: secured to the sleeper a-The part 3 is formed with an enlarged part or head 3ª
which prevents it from being slidden beyond a certain distance in the direction of
the arrow E-To the tongue k¹ of the point rail k is secured one end of a spiral
spring the other end of which is formed upon or secured to a part 7 capable of
being slidden through an opening formed in a projecting portion 8 upon a base
plate 9 secured to the sleeper a-The part 7 is provided with an enlarged part or
head 7 which prevents it from being slidden beyond a certain distance in the
direction of the arrow F-I will now assume that the rods n or the levers
connected thereto which are employed to open or close the facing points have
become broken or disarranged and that it becomes desirable to operate such facing
points The signal-man or other person desiring to actuate such facing points
would withdraw the lock bolt or plunger q from the opening t¹ formed through the
rods or bars r. s and immediately upon his doing so, the spring 6 will act as follows:
The spring 6 will contract and draw the tongues ¹. ¹ in the direction of the
arrow H sufficiently to place the openings t. t formed in the rods or bars r. 8.
into such a position that the lock bolt or plunger q cannot enter therein-
If the points were in the position opposite to that shown in the drawing and the
tongue of the point rail i were against the stock or fixed rail g the spring 2
would be extended and upon the withdrawal of the lock bolt or plunger
from the opening t formed in the rods or bars r. s. such extended spring
would contract thereby moving the point rails i. k. and the bars or rods r. s.
into such a position that the lock bolt or plunger q could not be returned to its
normal position and would thereby indicate imperfect action of the points and also
prevent the signals applying to the said points from being lowered as previously
described in reference to Fig: 1-The strength of the springs 2. 6. must be
Another
proportioned as described in reference to the springs y. in Fig. 1
method of carrying my invention into effect is illustrated by Fig: 3. Sheet 3 which
is a vertical cross section of a set of railway facing points those parts only being
shown which are necessary to illustrate my invention-Some of the parts being
similar to those previously described in reference to the previous figures-I shall
affix thereto similar letters of reference-At-g. h are the stock or fixed rails and
at i. k. are the point rails-At 10 is a bracket secured to a piece of timber or other
suitable material secured to the ground-projecting from the bracket 10 is a
stud 11 upon which and capable of being rotated thereon is a bell crank lever 12
one arm 12ª of which is provided with a stud 13 passing into a slot formed within
a bent rod 14 secured to the tongue of the point rail -The arm 12b of the bell
crank lever 12 is provided with a weight 15-At 16 is a bracket provided with a
stud 17 upon which and capable of being rotated thereon is a bell crank lever 18
one arm 18 of which is provided with a stud 19 passing into a slot formed within
a curved bar or rod 20 secured at one end to the tongue of the point rail k-The
arm 18b of the bell crank lever 18 is provided with a weight 21-The weight 15
tends to turn downward until it arrives in contact with the base 10° of the
bracket 10 and tends to force the pin 13 in the direction of the arrow J and
thereby to force the rod 14 in the same direction-As previously described I will
assume that the rods or the levers by which the points are actuated have become
broken or disarranged then upon the withdrawal of the lock bolt or plunger q from
the opening t within the bars or rods r. s the weight 15 will traverse the point
rails i. a short distance in the direction of the arrow K so that neither of the
openings tt formed through the rods or bars r. s. will be opposite to the lock bolt
or plunger q, thereby preventing such lock bolt or plunger q from being placed in
the position shown in the drawings and thus indicating to the person attempting to
actuate such facing points that their action is imperfect from some cause and
preventing the signals from being lowered as previously described in reference to
Fig: 1-The weight 21 acts in a manner similar to that previously described in
reference to the weight 15 and forces the tongues of the point rails i. k in a
direction opposite to that of the arrow K-The slots in the bars 14. 20 which
embrace the studs 13. 19 respectively, permit the point rails i. k. to be traversed to

page_text: 1.
an intermediate position between the stock rails g, h, by the action of either of the
weights 15. 21 Another method of carrying, my invention into effect is illustrated
by Fig: 4 Sheet 3 of the accompanying drawings As some of the parts are similar
in construction to those described in reference to the figures previously described
I shall affix to such parts letters of reference similar to those previously attached
thereto At g. h. are the stock or fixed rails and at i. k. are the point rails-To the
'tongue of the point rail is connected one end of a bent rod 22, the other end of
which is jointed to one arm 23ª of a bell crank lever 23 mounted so as to be
capable of being rotated upon a stud 23c carried by the bracket 10-The other
arm 23b of the bell crank lever 23 passes through openings, formed through af
number of weights 24 such openings being more clearly seen in Fig; 5 which is
an end view of such weights-The weights 24 are shewn in the drawing as resting
upon and supported by the bar 10 of the bracket 10-When the point rails i. k
"are operated for the purpose of opening or closing the points as the case may be
the arm 23 of the bell crank lever 23 will be turned in the direction of the
arrow L and the other arm 23b thereof will be turned upward, as the arm 23b
turns upward it will first arrive in contact with the weight 24ª then with the
weight 24b and so on until all of the said weights 24 are lifted by the arm 23 of
'the bell crank lever 23. By causing the arm 23b of the bell crank lever 23 to raise
the weights 24 one after another. the exertion of the operator is cumulative or 2
gradual and this arrangement may be used in some cases with advantage in place
of the arrangement shown and described in reference to Fig: 3-To the tongue of
the point rail is attached a bent rod or bar 25 one end of which is jointed to
one arm 26ª of a bell crank lever 26 mounted so as to be capable of being turned
upon a stud 27 carried by the bracket 16 The other arm 26 of the bell crank 12
lever 26 previously referred to passes within a series of weights 28 which are acted
upon by the arm 26 of the bell crank lever 26 in a manner and for a purpose
similar to that previously described in reference to the bell crank lever 23 and
weights 24 In cases where the rods or levers, by which the point rails are
operated for the purpose of opening or closing the same as the case may be, have 3
become broken or disarranged the weight 28 will turn the bell crank lever, 26 in
the direction of the arrow M when the lock bolt or plunger is withdrawn from
the opening t, in the bars or rods r. s. and would place the bars or rods 7. 8. in a
position such that the lock bolt or plunger q would not be able to enter either of
the openings t. t. in the bars or rods 7. 8. and thus indicate to the person endeavouring 3
to operate the points that their action is imperfect from some cause and prevent
the signals from being lowered in a manner similar to that described in reference
to the previous figures-The weights 24 act upon the point rails i. k in a manner
similar to that described in reference to the weights 28 when the point rails ik
are in a position opposite to that shown in the drawing-The weights 15. 21. and 4
24, 28 will require to be of such size that upon the breakage of the parts connecting
the-facing points to the hand lever by which they are actuated the said weights
will move the points and the parts remaining attached thereto so as to carry the
openings in the rods or bars 7. 8. into a position such that the lock. bolt or
plunger g, will not enter either of such openings t. t-I have hitherto assuined, that
the parts through which the facing points are worked by means of the hand lever
before named have become broken or disarranged when the points were locked by
the lock bolt or plunger q being inserted into one or other of the openings t. tin
the bars or rods 7. 8. but it will be readily understood by persons conversant with
railway points and point locking apparatus that should the breakage or disarrange-
ment of the parts through which the hand lever before named operates the points,
occur during the time the plunger or lock bolt q is withdrawn from the openings
t. t. the point rails . k. will be moved by the springs y. z 2: 6 or weights 15. 21.
or 24. 28 thereby preventing the lock bolt or plunger q from entering either of the
openings t. t¹ and thus preventing the signal from being lowered as above described.
Although I have hitherto referred to the springs y. z. and. 2. 6. and the weights
15, 21, and 24. 28 as being used in conjunction with one form only of facing point

page_text: locking apparatus. I would have it understood that my invention may be used-in
conjunction with other forms of facing point locking apparatus-The second part of
my invention refers to apparatus whereby I am
longitudinal expansion and contraction (arising fabled to compensate for the
variations of atmospheric
temperature) of the. rods or bars by which railway points and point locking
apparatus are connected with the hand levers "by which they are actuated-
The second part of my invention is illustrated by Figs 6. 7. 8 and 9 of
Sheet 4 of the accompanying drawings-Fig: 6. is an elevation partly in
section Fig 7 is a vertical cross section taken on the line N. O. of Fig 6-
Fig: 8 is a plan and Fig: 9 a vertical side elevation similar letters of reference being
applied to corresponding parts throughout the whole series of figures-At 29. 30
are timber or other supports secured firmly to the ground and extending across
from one to the other is a cross piece 31 to which is secured by means of screws
a box or frame 32-Within the box or frame 32 is situate a toothed wheel 33
having pivots 34 carried by and capable of being revolved upon bearings formed
within projecting parts 35 formed upon the box or frame 32-At 36 is a bar
squared portions 36" 36" of which pass. through openings of corresponding form
formed in the ends 37.38 of the box or frame 32 such openings acting as guides
through which the rod 36 may be slidden longitudinally. Upon the upper edge
of the bar 36 are formed teeth which gear into the teeth of the toothed wheel 33.
Passing longitudinally through the upper part of the box or frame 32 is a bar 39
squared portions 39a 39b of which pass through openings of corresponding form
formed in the ends 37. 38 of the box or frame 32 which serve as guides within
which the said bar 39 may be slidden longitudinally-The lower side of the bar 39
is provided with teeth gearing into the teeth of the before named toothed wheel 33-
The bar 36 is connected by the rod 36c to the hand lever by which the points are
actuated and the bar 39 is connected by the rod 39° to the points-The apparatus
above described I place midway between the points and the hand lever by which
they are actuated-Assuming that in the position of the parts as shown the points
are closed, then upon moving the hand lever by which the points are actuated so
that the rod or bar 36 is moved in the direction of the arrow P the teeth of the
rack formed upon such bar 36 taking into the teeth of the toothed wheel 33 will
cause. such toothed wheel to be turned in the direction of the arrow Q and the
teeth of such toothed wheel 33 acting upon the teeth of the rack formed upon the
bar 39 will cause such bar 39 to be slidden in the direction of the arrow R and
operate the points-When it is desired to again bring the points to their closed
position the hand lever is moved in a direction opposite to that previously described
which will cause the bar 36 to be moved in a direction opposite to that of the
arrow P which will rotate the toothed wheel 33 in a direction opposite to that of
the arrow and such toothed wheel 33 acting upon the bar or rod 39 will traverse
it in a direction opposite to that of the arrow R and thereby again close the
points If there is an increase of atmospheric temperature the rod or bar 36 and
rod 36° connected to the hand lever before named by which the points are operated
and the bar or rod 39 and rod 39c connected to the points previously referred to
will expand or lengthen in the direction of the arrows S. T. respectively-Such
expansion of such bars or rods will cause the toothed wheel 33 to rotate in the
direction of the arrow U-When a decrease of atmospheric temperature takes place
the bars or rods 36. 36 and 39. 39° will contract in length in a direction opposite
to that of the arrows S. T. respectively such contraction of the bars or rods 36. 36°.
39. 39 rotating the toothed wheel 33 in a direction opposite to that of the
arrow U-The toothed wheel 33 thus allows the bars or rods. 36. 36, 39. 39° to
expand and contract under the influence of variations of atmospheric temperature
without such expansion and contraction interfering with the uniform action of the
points when the same are operated by the lever previously referred to. Having
thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention and the manner in
which the same is to be performed I desire it to be understood that I claim as
secured to me under the above in part récited Letters Patent
:

page_text: Firstly In cases where facing point locking apparatus is employed, forcing the
tongues of the facing points away from the stock or fixed rails upon breakage of
or injury to the parts by which such points are actuated and thereby preventing
the lowering of the signal substantially in the manner herein before described and
shown in reference to Figs 1 and 2 Sheets 1 and 2 and Figs: 3, 4 and 5 of Sheet 3
of the accompanying drawings
"
Secondly Compensating for alterations due to variations of atmospheric tem-
perature in the length of point and point lock connecting rods or bars substantially
in the manner herein before described and shown in reference to Figs: 6. 7. 8. and 9
of Slieet 4 of the drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Johnson have hereunto set my hand
and seal this thirteenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three
HENRY JOHNSON (L.S.)