IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE POSITION OF RAILWAY-SWITCHES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of Kensington, Middlesex for an
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE POSITION
OF RAILWAY-SWITCHES A communication to him from abroad by Gilbert
Otte, of Apeldoorn, Holland,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Haddan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd August 1882.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of Kensington, Middlesex, "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE POSITION OF RAILWAY-SWITCHES," a communication
to me from abroad by Gilbert Otte, of Apeldoorn, Holland,
This invention has for its object to automatically indicate the position of several
switch points at a central station. It consists of a box placed between or near the
rails in which box all motions of the switch points are reproduced, and which is so
combined with a source of electricity that an electric current can only pass through
it if the switch points do not tightly close against the counter rails.
Also in an
indicating apparatus composed of a cylinder, two plates and an alarm or call bell
in combination with an electro-magnet, two levers and a ratchet wheel, this
mechanism being so arranged as to indicate by optic signs and by the ringing of a
bell, all motions which the switch points, make, and the position of the latter with
regard to their counter rails. The two switch points may be connected with the
contact-box by two connecting rods pivoted to two parallel rods passing through
the box placed on a sleeper, each of said parallel rods being perforated by an
insulated pin sliding on a metallic contact plate through which the current passes
to the contact pins, if the continuity of the plate is not broken by the position of
the switch point. The current from the contact box is conducted to the indicating
apparatus the principal part of which is a notched cylinder painted with two
different colours, either the one or the other of which is visible through a window
according to the position of the cylinder. The cylinder is moved by a ratchet
wheel the pawl of which is connected with the movable armature of an electro-
magnet, which also serves to strike an alarm bell and move a coloured disc or plate
in or out of sight.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Herbert John Haddan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd February 1883.
IN
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN of Kensington Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS
APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE POSITION OF RAILWAY SWITCHES," a communi- 5
cation to me from abroad by Gilbert Otte, of Apeldoorn, Holland,.
This invention has for its object to exercise a sure control over the direction
given to the switches and to enable one to verify at any moment which position
the switch points occupy and if they are properly placed against the counter rails,
in order to avoid thereby a frequent cause of accidents.
The controlling or indicating apparatus is in direct connection with the switches
by means of a contact box placed on the line between the switches, and electrically
connected with the signal boxes as well as with the different points wherever the
new indicator may be placed..
1
This apparatus has the great advantage of being adaptable to all switch systems 1
hitherto known and to automatically indicate the exact position of the switches,
consequently it also serves to control the action of the switch man.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1. represents the contact box in elevation.
Fig. 2. is a plan of the same
Fig. 3. is a side view of the interior of the box of the indicator
Fig. 4. is a cross section of the same.
Fig. 5. is a plan of the switches and of the contact box
Fig. 6. is a front view of the indicator.
A is a contact box made of cast iron or other suitable material placed on the
line between the switch points (or laterally if desirable). This box is furnished with
an insulating bottom B made of wood; C. C. are metallic slide-bars insulated from
the other parts of the box; these slide-bars are cut off in such a manner as to be
completely separated from the parts D D¹
D D' are parts of the slide-bars completely insulated from the parts C C'.
E' is a conducting wire communicating with the contact box, with the indicator
and with the battery.
E is a conducting wire communicating with the ground. F F' are movable
iron bars, the ends of which are fixed to the switch points.
These bars are perforated vertically at G G', and in the orifices thus formed are
situated the contact pins H H¹ made of copper insulated from the bars by means
of a small insulating tube G G¹.
These contact pins carry metallic helical springs I serving to establish the contact
between the pin and the slide bars.
J is a conducting wire insulated from the bars F and connecting the contact
pins Hand H'.
K. K are the connections between the slide-bars C C¹ and the conducting
wires E E'.
L is a copper cylinder divided into an equal number of sections (6 in the
drawings); these sections are painted' alternately with different colours.
M is a ratchet wheel provided with as many teeth as the cylinder L has sections;
this wheel, which is made of copper and insulated from the other parts of the
apparatus, drives the cylinder L.
N is an electro-magnet.

page_text: 1 Is a Stationary indicating plate pa
U is a moveable indicating plate painted red, and attached to the lever P.
V is a glass sheet forming one of the side walls of the indicating box, through
which the cylinder L and the white plate can be seen.
W is a spring carrying a catch serving to retain the cylinder L in the position it
occupies owing to the lever P.
X is an insulating lining.
Y is the box of the indicator.
a a¹ are screws serving to regulate the movements of the lever P.
b is a piece of insulating material attached to the lever P.
The apparatus being constructed as described, it works in the following way.
The apparatus, as represented in the accompanying drawing, is at rest, the left
switch point resting against its counter rail.
Under these conditions the electric current coming from the battery and passing
through the indicator along the wire E' is interrupted between C¹ and D', and
the electro magnet as well as the whole apparatus are consequently not exposed
to any electric action, the armature is not attracted, and the lever P rests on the
insulating b.
When the switch points are shifted, the moment the contact pin H passes
beyond the insulated part D of the slide-bar and coines in contact with the
conducting part C₁ of the slide-bar, the current coming along E¹ is no longer
cut off, but goes along E' K¹ C₁ J C. K. E, after passing the electro-magnet, which
attracts the armature O; the armature 0 moves the lever P and thereby the
bar S, and the cylinder L makes one sixth of a revolution, the red plate U is lifted
and places itself before the plate T and the ringing apparatus is set in motion at
the same time.
As soon as the switches have advanced in their motion until the contact pin
of the bar F comes in contact with the part D¹ of the slide-bar the electric current
coming from E¹ is cut off between C and D¹; the electro-magnet no longer
actuated releases the armature; the lever in falling breaks the contact with b
and the ringing apparatus ceases to be heard.
The red plate or dial at the same time reoccupies its original position below.
From the above it results that if by some reason the switch point is arrested
in its motion and does not close against its counter rail the electric current not
being interrupted continues to pass, the bell continues to ring and the armature
of the lever P remaining attracted by the electro magnet the red plate remains in
front of the white plate.
Fig. 6. of the drawings represents a front view of the box of the indicator. This
box is provided with large and small apertures corresponding in number to the
switches the different positions of which should be indicated.
Through the large apertures are seen the different sections of the cylinder L
(alternately painted red and white); every time this cylinder makes one sixth of
a revolution, a fresh colour is seen in the large aperture.
Through the small aperture are seen the white plates, or the red plates if the
switches are not in proper position.
Consequently if the bell is continuously ringing, that is to say, if a switch
is not in its proper position, the small aperture corresponding to this switch
will shew a red plate in front of the white one, and it may then be ascertained
which switch is out of order.
Each time the switch points are shifted the cylinder L makes one sixth of a
revolution and shews a different colour.
The ringing apparatus is operated by a separate electric battery.
:

page_text: Figs. 7. 8. and 9. of the accompanying drawing represents a modification of the
contact box.
The box A is made entirely of metal and near its centre are placed two transverse
shafts a and b pivoting in the bearings C C¹.
The shaft a carries two levers d, d', and the shaft b carries two other levers e e¹.
Each of these 4 levers is furnished with a small bevelled projection v v¹ by means
of which they are set in motion.
The bar F carries a post g on each side of which is placed a spring click h which
is prevented to pivot in one direction, by means of a pin i. The two spring clicks
pivot in opposite directions to each other.
The bar F is provided with the pin J.
In the bottom of the box are two apertures K K¹ in which are placed insulated
conductors connected to each other by a wire l.
m establishes the contact with the earth.
At the bottom of the box are two posts q q' each carrying two bevelled stpos
serving to receive the pins attached to the levers d and e¹, and intended to retain
these latter in position.
The helical springs 7 and 71 serve to replace the posts q q' into their normal
position each time they have been displaced by the passing of the said pins.
Finally the insulated pieces K K' are provided with contact pins t t which are
insulated when the levers d' and e' are lifted, but which establish the contact with
the levers when these latter are lowered.
In Fig 7. are shown the bar F and the contact levers.
In Fig: 8: are shewn the bar F¹ and the levers serving to interrupt the contact.
Fig 9 is a plan of the mechanism.
The apparatus works in the following way.
When the switch points occupy their normal position the levers d' and e' (fig 7)
are raised; the current coming from n is interrupted at K'. If the switch points
are then set in motion the click h acts on the bevelled part and lowers the lever d¹,
the contact with K is at once established and the current being no longer
interrupted the ringing apparatus is set in motion.
The lever d', however, when falling has raised the lever e and the switch points
continuing to advance the pin J of the bar F (fig 8) comes in contact with the
bevelled part of the lever e and still advancing lowers the latter, raises the lever d
and interrupts the electric current.
The Ringing apparatus stops, but this can only take place the moment the switch
points occupy their proper position close to their counter rails.
If the switches are again shifted or reversed the other click h of the bar F, acts
on the obligin part v thereby lowering the lever e¹ and raising the lever d'; the
contact is again established until the pin J acts on the bevelled part of the lever d,
lowers the latter again and interrupts the contact.
The current being again cut off the bells cease to ring.
The indicating apparatus works in the same manner as described in the first
part of this Specification.
CLAIMS
1 An apparatus consisting substantially of a contact box in which the
movements of the switch-points are reproduced and which is constructed in
such a manner, that an electric current can only pass through the box when
the switch points on one side or on the other, are not in contact with their
counter rails.
2 An indicating apparatus composed of a cylinder, two signal-plates and a
ringing mechanism in combination with an electro-magnet, two levers and a
ratchet wheel, and adapted to report by visible indications and by a ringing
mechanism all movements imparted to the switch-ponts and the exact position
of the latter in regard to their counter-rails.

page_text: 3 The combination of these two appliances, whatever may be their shape, their
position and the materials from which they are made, substantially as described
and illustrated and for the purpose specified
In Witness whereof I the said Herbert John Haddan have hereunto set my
band and seal this 2nd day of February. A.D. 1883.
H. J. HADDAN (L.S.) ·