Improvements in Apparatus for Working and Interlocking Points and Signals on Railways.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 27th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 27th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Working and Interlocking Points
and Signals on Railways.
I, FREDERICK ARTHUR ATKINSON of St. Wulstan's Crescent in the City of
Worcester, Railway Signal Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
My invention relates to the method of working the locking gear known as tappet
locking in conjunction with the spring catch handle movement. My apparatus
may however be equally well applied to other types of locking gear, other than
tappet.
The novelty of my invention consists of introducing a motion piece working on
a centre or pivot. To this said motion piece I connect my spring catch rod end by
means of a light iron bar or link. For this purpose of connection I continue my
catch rod end beneath the floor plate of the apparatus to any suitable distance.
Unto the same motion piece I also connect my locking gear.
I place the centre or pivot of my motion piece in the centre line of motion of
the main apparatus lever, and arrange my motion piece in such manner, so that
when the spring catch is raised, the point of connection between the catch rod end
and the motion piece, is brought into a position central between the extremities of
the radial travel of the catch rod end, and at the same time, by reason of being
connected to the motion piece, a movement is imparted to the locking gear, such
movement being sufficient for locking purposes. During the travel of the main
lever, no movement is given to the motion piece, owing to the connecting point
between the catch rod end and the motion piece acting as a pivot or centre on
which the catch rod end and connecting link or bar turns. When the main lever
has passed into its pulled over position and the spring catch rod is let down, in
consequence of the reversed position of the main lever and its spring catch rod,
with regard to the connecting point between the spring catch rod end and the
motion piece, a continuation of the same movement is imparted to the locking
gear.
Thus although the first movement of the spring catch rod to release its main
lever, is upward, and the last movement to secure the same again, is downward,
yet, owing to the above described motion piece arrangement, a continuous movement
in one direction only, is imparted to the locking gear.
Dated this 26th day of January 1891.
FREDERICK ARTHUR ATKINSON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Working and Interlocking Points
and Signals on Railways.
I, FREDERICK ARTHUR ATKINSON, of St. Wulstan's Crescent, in the City of
Worcester, Railway Signal Engineer, do bereby 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 relates to the method of working the locking gear known as tappet
locking in conjunction with the spring catch handle movement and consists in
improved apparatus whereby a reduced movement or less travel is given to the
plunger. The improved apparatus is equally applicable to types of locking gear
other than tappet.

page_text: In carrying out my invention I introduce a motion piece working on the same
centre or pivot as the main lever, or, working on a centre situated anywhere in the
centre line of motion or travel of the main lever, claw stops being advantageously
provided for operating the motion piece for the purpose hereinafter more fully
described. To this motion piece I connect the spring catch rod end by means of a
light iron bar or link ånd for this purpose the catch rod end is continued beneath
the floor plate of the apparatus to any suitable distance and to the said motion
piece is also connected the locking gear.
In order to enable the invention to be fully understood I will proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improvements as applied to tappet locking
apparatus.
Figure 2 is a front elevation.
Figure 3 is a plan, and
:
Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the motion piece shewing the various movements
of the connecting link or bar.
a is my motion piece pivotted in the centre line of motion of the main apparatus
lever b, the motion piece a being so arranged that when the spring catch rod c is
raised the connecting link or bar d acting on the motion piece a, imparts movement.
to the locking gear, such movement being sufficient for locking purposes.
e is the catch rod end to which is connected the connecting link d; f, f are the
claw stops. g is the plunger and h, is the locking box.
g
The operation is as follows:-On the catch rod c being raised by its handle to
release the main lever b, the motion piece a is caused to move from a¹ to a³
(Figures 1 and 4) in consequence of being attached by the connecting link d to the
catch rod end e, whereby movement is communicated to the plunger which effects
the necessary interlocking in the locking box h before the actual travel of the main
lever is commenced. During the travel of the main lever b the motion piece, a
remains stationary at a² (Figures 1 and 4) owing to the connecting-point between
the connecting link or bar d, and the motion piece a, acting as a pivot or centre on
which the catch rod end e, and connecting link d turn. During the last half of the
movement of the main lever the connecting link & comes against one of the claw
stops and turns the motion piece a just over the centre, whereby any jamming on
.dead centres of the catch handle rod, connecting link and motion piece is prevented;
the travel of the main lever is then completed and the catch rod c is let down to
secure the said main lever and thereby another movement from a³ to a³ (Figures 1
and 4) is communicated to the motion piece a, whereby a further movement in the
same direction as the first is given to the plunger g, and the releasing or other
movement required in the interlocking gear is effected. It will thus be seen that
the action of the stops on the connecting bars or links d as shewn in the drawing
whereby the motion pieces are thrown over the centre, ensures a continuous motion
in one direction being given to the plungers of the locking mechanism, that is to
say, although the first movement of the spring catch rod to release the main lever
is upward and the last movement to secure the same again in position is downward
a continuous movement in one direction only is given to the locking gear.
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 apparatus for working and interlocking points and signals on railways, the
combination with the ordinary main lever and spring catch rod of a connecting,bar
or link such as d, a motion piece such as a, working on the same centre as the main
lever or on a centre situated anywhere in the centre line of motion or travel of the
main lever, and claw stops, such as f, f, arranged and operating substantially as,
and for the purpose, hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
2. In apparatus for working and interlocking points and signals on railways

page_text: arrangements whereby a continuous movement in the same direction is imparted to
the plunger to effect results substantially in the manner described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawing.
3. The manufacture and use of the improved apparatus for working and inter-
locking points and signals on railways hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
Dated the 27th day of November 1891.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.