Switches and Signals and for other like Purposes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Switches and Signals and for other like Purposes.
We WILLIAM THOMAS LEACH of 465 Caledonian Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer and ROBERT PORTER also of 465 Caledonian Road in the
County of Middlesex. Merchant 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 an improved apparatus and method for locking and unlock-
ing Railway Switches and Signals in connection therewith and for other like
purposes.
In order that the details of this improved system may be more clearly understood,
we shall now refer to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1. is a front view of the apparatus with the vertical side of the casing-C-
removed.
Fig. 2. is an end view of same.
Fig. 3. is an end view of Roller or Tumbler, showing the helical segment―n.
Fig. 4. is a side view of same.
Figs. 5 & 6. are views of the Sliding Bar-B.
Figs. 7. 8. & 9 show how a Switch is automatically opened to allow an.engine to
trail through with details of the parts necessary for effecting this.
Identical parts are marked with identical figures..
The drawings are not to scale.
C-is the casing or box formed of a base and two vertical sides or standards, these
sides are connected by a correspondingly shaped piece, which in its upper part has a
longitudinal slot, in which the lever D-moves freely.
The sides are held together by bolts, passed through lugs-p.-Such vertical
Standards have in their centre a circular hole, through which the pin―g—of the
Roller A passes.
In the lower parts of the sides and just over the base, are cut square holes correpond-
ing in size to the sliding Bar-B-the motions of which they guide.
The casing may be made of any suitable metal.

page_text: On the upper part of the casing-C-are cast or otherwise mounted or fixed two
pieces of the same metal as the casing-which have near their ends small
longitudinal slots-y-(fig. 1).
When the lever is at either of the ends, these slots, will be just before the lever, on
its inner side and a slotted pin or chain can be passed through these slots and secured
by a padlock.
By this arrangement the lever is locked in its position and it will be impossible for
strangers to meddle with the switches and signals in connection with the latter.
A-is a Roller or Tumbler, preferably of circular shape, but not of necessity so
(A segment of a Roller or other suitably shaped block may be employed instead).
Said Roller carries on its lower part a helical segment-n-the ends of which
terminate at angles of 135° and 45° or at right angles to the axis of the Roller or
other suitable blcck.used..
This Tumbler is provided in its upper part, with a recess or socket, into which is
fitted a lever or handle D,-firmly fixed and held in position by a pin. (When
required to be taken out frequently this pin need not be employed, as the lever will
rest firmly enough in its recess, without it.)
Such lever or handle may or may not be weighted.
If it is desired to work the apparatus from a distance-from a Junction Box or Signal
Box a quadrant or chain wheel may be fixed to the pin-g-of the Roller A-in
such a manner, that it would work the tumbler in the same way as a lever.
In such cases there need be no slot in the top of the casing, nor would the
parts be required.
The quadrant or chain wheel, will be connected with the signal or junction box and
worked in the ordinary manner.
B. is the Sliding Bar-consisting of a metal casting or forging terminated
at each end by an eye, for connecting the bar to the tie rod of the switch rail-1-or
to the signal rod on the opposite side-2-or both combined, which latter arrange-
ment prevents the signals from being any other, than in accordance with the position
of the switch.
By connecting the signals direct with end-2-of the sliding Bar, we not only lock
them securely and show invariably the state of the switch but we also do away, with a
lot of expensive material such as rods, elbows or levers, pins, screws etc., which
had to be used for connecting signals with the switch, as was the general practice
heretofore.
If the signal post is not directly behind the switch box, the connection between the
end 2 of the sliding Bar and the Signals is made by means of a Rod or wire or in
any other suitable way.
In the upper part of the Sliding Bar-B,-is formed a groove at or about an angle
of 45° with the length of the Bar. The extreme or chisel points are cut away forming
a right angle with the side of the Bar, as shown in fig. 5 at a and ẞ.
On the lower face of the Bar are two stops-m-either fixed or adjustable these
are for the purpose of controlling the distance of travel of the Bar and to take up the
back..lash.
Tumblers with screw segments working in diagonally grooved Bars, were described
before this and we do not claim any novelty as to that part, but what we claim as new
is our locking arrangement-consisting in the use of a specially shaped cut off screw
segment, as shown in fig. 3.-and chisel points a and ẞ in the sliding Bar, which when
the lever D-is at either end of its travel, (or if a quadrant or chainwheel has
accomplished the same motion)-will rest against the face of the cut off screw segment
above described, forming in combination with the stops-m-an absolute and perfectly
safe-lock for the switch.
To work the switch, the lever is thrown or pushed from its position of rest to the
opposite side of the slot in the top of the casing, this causes the roller to revolve
through the arc of a circle, thus forcing the helical part on the roller to actuate the
sliding Bar. The flat face at the end of the screw comes in contact with the flat face
at the termination of the groove in the sliding Bar thus giving a rigid lock. This
"

page_text: occurs at either end of the movement of the handle. It is obvious that the same
results may be obtained by substituting a chainwheel or quadrant with a proper throw,
worked from a distance. Where it is desired that switches should automatically open,
to allow the trailing of an engine or train through the points, we use the following
combination of parts in connection with our apparatus. (Figs. 7. 8 & 9.)
Between the main line Rail and the siding or branch line switch Rail, a long
lever R is placed, which when the points are in position lays nearly horizontal with
the tops of the two Rails abutting.
This lever is fixed upon a stud-T-which stud passes through a bearing-S-fixed
to the main line Rail. At the other end of the stud is fixed a short lever-v-in such
a manner, that it will follow the movements of R.
To the lever-v-is attached a rod a working in the direction of the double ended
lever F, mounted on the pin-g-of the axle of the Tumbler A.
On the passage of an engine or train from the line of Rails closed by the points, the
flanges of the wheels roll upon and depress the end of the long lever R, which will
impart motion through the Studs-T-to the lever--and the rod--thus pushing
the lever F, whereby the screw is lifted out of its locked position in the groove of the
bar and will open the switch sufficiently for an engine or train to pass through without
in the least damaging the track.
When the engine or train has passed through the handle falls down or back again,
by its own weight and thus causes the points to become again locked.
This can only occur in one direction as shewn in the plan fig. 7.
In employing the above described arrangement, it is necessary that the lever should
have a weight attached to it, which for ordinary locking purposes for switches where
there is no trailing, is not required.
This arrangement as described here only applies to sidings or branch lines.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare, that what we
claim is:
1.) In apparatus for actuating Railway or other Switches, the combination of parts,
whereby a rigid and safe locking of Switches is obtained, such parts being the
cut off end of the helical segment-n-forming an angle of 135° and 45° or a right
angle to the axis of the roller, in combination with the chisel points of the sliding Bar
and stops--m-working and locking substantially as described above with reference to
the annexed illustrative drawings.
2.) Connecting the Signals with end-2-of the sliding Bar, thereby locking them
as well as the switch and showing them invariably in accordance with the state
of the switch, substantially as described above with reference to the annexed
drawings.
3.) The arrangement and combination of parts for allowing an engine, carriage
or train to pass through trailing points substantially as described above with reference
to the annexed drawings.
D
2
T 1
1000