A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE BETTER PROTECTION OF ROAD OR RAILWAY LEVEL CROSSINGS."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Seddon, of 15, Mathew Street, Heaton, in the
Borough of Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the County of Northumberland, and George
Collier, of 10, Newgate Street, in the Town and County of Newcastle-on-Tyne,
for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE BETTER
PROTECTION OF ROAD OR RAILWAY LEVEL CROSSINGS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Seddon and George
Collier at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th January
1879.
HENRY SEDDON, of 15, Matthew Street, Heaton, in the Borough of Newcastle-on-
Tyne, in the County of Northumberland, and GEORGE COLLIER, of 10, Newgate
Street, in the Town and County of Newcastle-on-Tyne. "A NEW OR IMPROVED
APPARATUS
THE BETTER PROTECTION OF ROAD OR RAILWAY LEVEL
CROSSINGS."
FOR
We propose fixing two or more gates, according to the nature or width of the
crossing, to be worked from the signalman or pointsman's box or other convenient
place by means of a lever or levers, or by wheel and pinions connected to the
gates by a travelling rod or rods, or by a revolving shaft or shafts, on which are
fixed pinions or worms geared into or attached to toothed wheels or arms fixed on
the heel or hoetree of each gate, as will be most convenient or suitable to the nature
of the ground, the width of the crossing, the size and weight of the gates, or the
site of the box, cabin, or other place from whence they are to be worked, or other
circumstances. On the lever or levers or on the revolving shaft or shafts, as the
case may be, inside the box, is fixed a sliding bar or bars, so arranged as to interlock
with as many of the signal or point levers as may be desirable, thereby preventing
the person in charge through mistake or other cause from opening the gates when
there is danger in doing so, through the signals being "off" or the points "over
for a train or other railway traffic to pass the crossing.
"
In addition to the said interlocking inside the box we intend fixing self acting
signals to work in unison with the gates, namely, for day, disc or semiphore signals,
for night, red and white lights placed over each line of rails. And for foggy
weather a gong or gongs, placed at suitable distances along the side of the line from

page_text: the crossing each way. The semiphore or disc signals by day & the lamp signals
by night being placed at "danger," and the gongs being placed in position for
striking, should a train or other vehicle pass them the moment the gates are being
-opened-for-road-traffic_and_resume the "allright" position as soon as the gates are
properly shut again. By this means there will be a double check on the signalman
or other in charge, and also on the engine drivers and guards.
At the side-are-placed small hand-gates or wickets when necessary for foot
passengers, which-are-also-by-a-simple-contrivance under the control of the-person
in charge, so that in case of danger he can lock them and thereby prevent anyone
crossing the line. When it is desirable-not-to-have-wickets, in consequence of much
traffic, we propose fixing a foot bridge over the line, so contrived as to be easily
attached to and supported by the pillars used for carrying the gates and other
connections.
The gates when open for the public or road traffic form a perfect and secure
fence across the line, so as to prevent any person, animal, or thing straying on to
the line beyond while in the act of crossing, and when shut across the road they
are securely fastened so that no one can open them except the person in charge.
The chief novelty we claim for our Invention being that the whole of the con-
nections, gearing, fastenings, and locks, &c., are above the ground surface and in
sight, thereby facilitating the discovery of any breakage or damage through.
accident or other cause, and therefore very easily repaired should any part or parts
get out of order.
1:57
1412

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Seddon and George Collier in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 26th July 1879.
HENRY SEDDON, of 15, Mathew Street, Heaton, in the Borough of Newcastle-
on-Tyne, in the County of Northumberland, and GEORGE COLLIER, of 10, Newgate
Street, in the Town and County of Newcastle-on-Tyne. "A NEW OR IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR THE BETTER PROTECTION OF ROAD OR RAILWAY LEVEL
CROSSINGS."
This Invention has for its object a new or improved apparatus for the better
protection of road or railway level crossings.
Hitherto it has been customary to place the mechanism in connection with the
gates at such crossings beneath the surface of the ground, thus in the event. of its
getting out of order creating great difficulty, labour, and expense in detecting the
locality of the defect and effecting its repair. Now one of the principal objects of
our Invention is to obviate these various difficulties by placing the entire apparatus
above the ground surface at any convenient height, thus affording the utmost
facility for the expeditious repair of any portion thereof which may get out of order
either through accident or otherwise.
Before proceeding to describe our Invention we would premise that where it is
desirable our improved mechanism may also be fixed underground at any convenient
depth.
In order to carry out our Invention we proceed as follows:-We fix two or more
gates, àccording to the nature or width of the crossing, to be worked from the
signalman's or pointsman's box, or from any other convenient place by means of a
lever or levers, or by wheel and pinions connected to the gates by a travelling rod
or rods, or by a revolving shaft or shafts on which are fixed pinions or wors
geared into or attached to toothed wheels or parts of wheels or arms fixed on the
heel of cach gate as may be most convenient and suitable to the nature of the
ground, the width of the crossing, the size and weight of the gates, the site of
the box, cabin, or other place from whence they are to be worked, and other
circumstances.
On the lever or levers, or on the revolving shaft, as the case may be, inside the
box is fixed a sliding bar or bars so arranged as to interlock with as many of the
signal or point levers as may be desirable, thereby preventing the man in charge,
through mistake or other cause, from opening the gates when there is danger in
doing so through the signals being "off" or the points over for a train to pass the
crossing.
In addition to the said interlocking apparatus inside the cabin we fix self-acting
signals' to work in unison with the gates, viz., for day, a disc or semaphore signal
for and over each line; and for night, a red and a white light, and also for foggy
weather, a gong or gongs placed at any suitable distance from the crossing both
ways. The semaphore or disc signals by day, the lamp signals by night, and the
gongs for foggy weather, all being immediately placed at "danger" the moment the
gates are being opened for road traffic, and resuming the "all right" position as soon
as the gates are properly shut again. By this means there is a double check on the
signalman or others in charge, and also on the engine drivers and guards.
At the side are placed hand gates or wickets when necessary for foot passengers,
which are also under the control of the signalman or others in charge, so that in
case of danger he can lock them, and thereby prevent anyone crossing the line;
also where it is desirable not to have wickets, in consequence of much traffic, we
fix a foot bridge over the line, so contrived as to be easily attached to and supported
by the pillars used for carrying the gates and other connections.
The gates when open for the public or road traffic, form a perfect and secure
fence across the line, so as to prevent any person, animal, or thing straying on to

page_text: the line beyond while in the act of crossing; also, when shut across the road, they
are securely fastened, so that no one can open them except the person in charge.
And in order that our said Invention may be better understood and readily
carried into effect, we will now, with the aid of the accompanying Drawings,
proceed more particularly to describe and ascertain the same.
Fig 1-shews_a_semi-plan view of our improved apparatus; Figs. 2 and 3 shew
views in front and side elevation of the mechanism or prime movers-for-working.
the whole of the apparatus when revolviūg shafts are used.
Figs 4,5,6,-and 7 are separate views of parts of such mechanism, Fig. 4 shewing
the working of the-pinion-geared_into_the_wheel fixed on the top of the heel of each
- gate, Fig. 5 shewing the worm arrangement; Figure 6 the mitre wheels, and Fig:7-
the toothed rack geared into a toothed-wheel-connected_on_to_a_lever conveniently
placed in the cabin or elsewhere.
Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11 show separate views of parts of the mechanism when
sliding rods in combination with angle levers are used, Fig. 8 shewing the connection
in cabin or elsewhere to main lever; Fig. 9, a similar arrangement carried out and
connected with a toothed rack gearing into a toothed wheel on the top of the heel
of each gate; and Figs. 10 and 11, views in side elevation and plan of the same
arrangement when connected to an arm on the heel of the gate.
.
Figs. 12 and 13 shew views of the spring bolt and recessed box, as also of the
upright rod attached to the side of the heel of the gate and connected to the spring
bolt, as hereafter described.
Figs. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 shew detail view of the mechanism for con-
trolling the wickets, Fig. 14 being a view in side elevation of the studded slide,
which works in brackets fixed to the girders or elsewhere, Figs. 15 and 16 being
views in plan and side elevation of the arm in which the stud works, Fig. 17 being
a side elevation of the slotted slide, which works in brackets fixed to the girders or
elsewhere; and Figs. 18 and 19 being views in plan and side elevation of the arm
working inside the slide.
Figs. 20, 21, and 22 shew various views of the signal apparatus, Fig. 20 being
the slotted slide and tooth arrangement worked by a toothed wheel fixed on the
revolving shafts, Fig. 21 being the same arrangement when sliding rods are used,
and Figure 22 being this arrangement as adapted for use for distance signals.
Fig. 23 shows our improved form of pulley to prevent the choking of the
wire.
Figure 24 shews a view of our improved interlocking apparatus as arranged in
the cabin or elsewhere, Figs. 25 and 26 being independent views of slides 1, 2,
and 3, while Fig. 27 shews the mode of working the slide when revolving shafts
are used.
Fig. 28 shews a plan view of the underside of the cam, showing the groove
formed therein, wherein the upright rod attached to the heel of the gate works;
and Figs. 29 and 30, and 31 are respectively sectional views of the same taken at
the lines A, B, C, D, and E, F.
Figure 32 shews a part view in side elevation of the gates with the transverse
strengthening-bar-or-support. Also_our_improved double wicket and one form of
the cap or covering for the principal working parts of the mechanism, all respectively-
as hereafter mentioned.
1st. The Columns.-These are made of any suitable material, such as cast iron,
wrought iron, wood, or any other material, and of sufficient height (when the
mechanism is required to be overhead) to comply with any or all of the require-
ments of the Board of Trade, highway boards, local boards, or any other regulations
relating to bridges.
Such columns are made so as to allow of their being bolted down on to a base of
stone or any other suitable material sunk into the ground, or made of sufficient
length to be fixed in the ground without bolting on to any base.
On each column is fixed a bracket a¹, Fig. 32, cither near to the ground surface
or below it, with a centre hole drilled in it to admit the spindle or pivot fixed at

page_text: the bottom of each gate heel, as presently mentioned to work in it, while on the
top part of each column is fixed at the proper angle two ribs, or a number of
snugs" carried downwards from the top to a sufficient depth and provided with
holes for the girders to be bolted to. We also fix on these columns when required
a suitable ring or bracket a², Fig. 32, just at the spring of the girders, so as to serve
as an extra support to the girders.
2nd. The Girders.-These are made of either wrought or cast iron or wood, or
any other suitable material or materials, either separately or combined, and of
sufficient span to suit the width of the road, carriage drive, or railway, according to
the requirements of each particular case, and they can also be made either plain or
ornamental, according to the taste of each particular party or parties requiring
them.
When such girders are bolted or fastened on to the columns they form bridges a³,
Figure 32, to carry the rods, shafts, bearers, and other parts of the mechanism required
to work the gates, wickets, signals, and other parts (when this is required to be
done overhead), and they also help to strengthen and hold together the columns in
their proper position.
3rd. The Gates. These can be made either of wood or iron, or both combined,
or any other suitable material or materials, and of any height or length required.
We prefer however to make them of a height of six feet or more so as to prevent
(as far as possible) any animal attempting to jump or any person climbing over
them.
The heel of each gate is carried upwards or downwards, as the case may
require, to a sufficient height or depth to admit of a spur wheel 1, Fig. 1, or part of
a wheel or an arm, shewn at Fig. 11, being fixed thereon so as to work in con-
nection with or be attached to the part or parts of the mechanism hereafter
described.
At the bottom of each gate heel is fixed a spindle or pivot a, Fig. 32, to work
in the bracket a¹, Fig. 32, fixed at or near the ground surface (or below it as the
case may require), on each column, while on the top of each heel is fixed another
spindle or pivot c, Fig. 1, which works in an arm or bracket d, Fig. 1, fastened to
the girder or girders, this arm or bracket being provided with notches or holes e,
Fig. 1, by which means the gates can either be raised or lowered in either direction
in order to adjust them so as to hang true.
On and by these two said spindles or pivots each gate is supported and
turns.
In the case of very long gates an extra support may be required to prevent the
gate falling by its own weight at the head. This we effect by fixing a wire or
rod, indicated by the line a, Fig. 32, diagonally from the bottom rail of each gate,
at or near the head to a sufficient height on the heel, and provided with a screw to
tighten or slacken it as required, or any other suitable form of additional support
may be employed.
On the head of each gate is fixed a spring bolt b, Figs. 12 and 13, which drops
into a recess b¹ in an iron box 62 in the same Figures (or into a recess formed in
any other suitable material) fixed in the ground, which bolts hold the gates in
their proper position when they are either shut across the road or when thej.are
open and across the line, and are so arranged that no one, except those in charge,
can lift them in order to open or shut, or even partially open or shut, the gates
without the permission of the person in charge, these bolts being worked by the
signalman or other attendant by means of rods m, Fig. 1, connected on to a lever
or other appliance in the cabin or other place from which they are worked, as
hereafter more minutely described.
4th. The Wickets.-These are made of the same material or materials as the
gates, and can be made either single or double, or otherwise. To carry out the
double arrangement we make the gate to swing on a centre post or heel as, Figures 1
and 32, so that two or more passengers may pass through in opposite directions

page_text: simultaneously, such centre post or heel being carried up or down the same as the
heels of the gates, and provided also with a spindle or pivot a7, Figures 1 and 32, at
the top and bottom to work on, and to be supported by. On the top of the heel
-is fixed an arm in the form shewn at g, Figures 1 and 15, or in any other suitable
form, in or on which works a studded slide g², Fig. 1, and also shewn in Fig. 14,
or a slotted slide, shewn-in. Fig. 17, working_in_brackets g', Fig. 1, bolted or other-
wise fastened to the girder b, Fig. 1, and connected by a rod or rods, or wire or
wires.h, Fig. 1, on to a lever or other appliance in the cabin or other place, by
which means the person-in-charge.can:lock_or_fasten the wickets in case of danger,
the wickets being otherwise kept shut-when-not-in-use-by-a-spring.or by a weiglit,
-as the case may require, placed in any convenient position.
4. The Spring Bolts. These are worked by a lever or other-appliance-from-the-
cabin, as before mentioned, by connecting rods m, Fig. 1, carried from the said
lever, and attached to discs or cams n, Fig. 1, working on the spindle c, Fig. 1, at
the top of the heel of each gate. A suitably shaped groove (different views of one
form of which are shewn in Figures 28, 29, 30, and 31 of the accompanying Drawings)
is formed on the under surface of such discs or cams, in which an upright rod b³,
Fig 12; running down the heel of each gate works. This rod is continued along the
top rail of each gate to the head thereof, where it is connected in any convenient
manner to the spring bolt b, Figs. 12 and 13. The operation of this part of our
Invention is as follows:- When the lever in the cabin is pulled over by the atten-
dant the disc or cam n revolves to a suitable distance, according to the angle at
which the gates are fixed, and depresses the upright rod bs placed on the heel of
the gate, thereby raising the spring bolt out of the box or recess, and allowing the
gates to open or shut freely until they have cleared the permanent way, when they
at once commence to fall, owing to the shape of the groove formed on the under-
surface of the cam n.
In order to ensure the spring bolt falling into the box or recess we taper off the
external surface of the latter to an inclined plane on either side, as seen at b₁,
Fig. 13, while the base of the bolt itself is formed slightly wedge shaped, as shewn
at 6, Fig. 13, or rounded so as to allow of its easy travel over the inclined plane of
the external surface of the box, and thus readily falling into the recess therein.
5th. The Prime Movers.-These can be fixed in any position or place from which
it is intended to work the gate signals and other parts of the mechanism, and
consist of either a wheel and pinion or wheels and pinions, shewn at Figs. 2, 3, 4,
and 5, or a lever or levers, shewn at Figures 7 and 8, or any other suitable means,
and connected on to revolving shafts i, Fig. 1, or sliding rods or bars, these shafts,
rods, or bars being carried along the girders or other convenient ways (or if circum-
stances render it preferable along the ground), and cither partially or entirely up.
the columns, either externally or internally, in any convenient manner, and on or
to which is fastened pinions k, Figs. 1 and 4, or racks or worms geared into the
wheels 1, Fig. 1, or parts of wheels, or connected on to the arms, shewn at Figs. 10
and 11, fixed on the heels of each gate, as previously described, the direction being
varied by means of mitre wheels c', Figs. 1 and 6, or by angle levers, as previously
described, and-illustrated-at-Figures-6-and-8-as-the-case-may require, or as may be
6th: The Signals.-1st. We fix a signal for each line of rails on the girder or
girders, crossing the line and directly over and above each said line of rails. These
signals we term "gate signals," as they are fixed specially for the protection of the
gates and are worked with a slotted slide or slides c¹, Figs. 20, 21, and 22, provided
with teeth c², Fig. 20, at one edge, and geared to a toothed wheel or wheels c³,
Fig. 20, on the revolving shaft or shafts, when revolving shafts are used, as there
indicated. When travelling rods are used, as shewn at co, Fig. 21, the said slide or
slides c¹ does not require teeth but is worked by a rod or rods c* attached to the
said travelling rod or rods c³.
preferred.
2nd. The distance or any other signals required to work simultaneously with the

page_text: gates, and not placed over the line as above named, are connected by means of a
chain d', Figure 22, running over a sheave or pulley d², Fig. 22, fixed on to any of
the shafts or on to any of the spindles, either at the top or bottom of the heels of
the gates, whichever is most convenient, according to circumstances, and also over
a loose sheave or pulley d³, Fig. 22, placed beyond the slide c¹, Fig. 22, fixed to
each signal post, one end of such chain d' being attached to the slide and the other
end attached to wire d', Figure 22, this said wire being carried alternately over and
under very light pullies, of the form shewn at Fig. 23, namely, with the ordinary
guiding groove o therein, and a hollow shoulder or recess o¹ at each side thereof,
fixed to posts driven in the ground and provided with a suitable cover to avoid
being prevented from working through becoming choked by frost or snow, or
through any other impediment, the said pullies being made in this improved form
to allow plenty of room for the wire to work should it become covered with ice or
frozen snow.
We also steep the wire in paraffin oil or any suitable equivalent
before fixing the same, thus reducing the probality of its being frozen to a
minimum. Such wire is continued along the line from each signal to each sheave
or pulley at the gates, and connected on to the chain passing round it, and returned
and connected on to the slide c¹, Fig. 22, and thus forms a continuous or endless
chain or wire.
To the said loose sheave or pulley d³, Fig. 22, placed beyond or near each signal,
is attached another chain d, Fig. 22, passing over another sheave or pulley do,
Fig. 22, from which chain is suspended a weight d', Fig. 22, or a spring may be
attached to the loose sheave d³, Fig. 22, to keep the said wire or wires always
tight and in proper working order, at the same time allowing the slides and wire to
work freely without the necessity of the attendant continually having to lift the
heavy weights usually employed for this purpose. Each signal is caused to rise, or
fall, or turn as required by means of a rod or rods c, Fig. 21, attached to the sema-
phore, and continued down the post and connected to a bar c7, Fig. 21, provided
with a snug, Fig. 21, which works in the slot in the slide, this said slot being
made sufficiently long to allow of the continual expansion and contraction of the
wire by atmospheric action.
By this improved arrangement it is unnecessary for the attendant to leave the
cabin for the purpose of continually tightening or slackening the wire owing to
the change of temperature, and it thus ensures the signal being always held in
proper position and dispenses with the necessity for the use of indicators now so
frequently employed.
This arrangement will also apply when any of the signals are required to work
independently from the gates, the whole being so arranged that no one can tamper
with or alter them, as they must in all cases be worked solely by the person in
charge.
3rd. At or near or on each signal, or any other suitable place, we fix when
required a gong for foggy weather, which is also worked in the same manner and
at the same time as the other signals, so that when the gates are open for road
traffic a small lever is raised at the side of the rails and placed in position so as to
be pressed down by the engine, train, or any vehicle passing it, and so causes the
gong to sound and therefore warn the drivers, guards, or others, in case of danger,
the said lever falling out of striking position when the gates are closed again
against road traffic and open for a train to pass.
7th. The Interlocking Apparatus.-When any of the signal or point levers in the
cabin require to be interlocked with the gates we fix three sliding bars 1, 2, 3,
Fig. 24, one connected to the lever or other appliance which works the catches or
spring bolts that secure the gates and another connected on to the apparatus which
works the gates, and placed alongside of the first. In both of these slides there is
a slot or hole k, Figs. 25, which slots or holès are both opposite each other only
when the gates are properly shut and fastened. When a revolving shaft is employed
as shewn at Fig. 27, the sliding bar 2 is provided with a rack e¹ which gears into a

page_text: toothed wheel e² fixed on such shaft, as shewn in such Figure, but when a travelling
rod is employed instead of such shaft such sliding rod No. 2 is connected to the
lever v, shewn in Figure 8, in any convenient manner.
The sliding bar 3, Fig. 24, is placed at right angles to the other two, and is
provided with as many slots as there are levers to be interlocked, as is shewn in the
independent view of this slide given at Figure 26, one end of this slide being
made to work or fit into the slots-in-the-other two slides 1 and 2, as seen-in
Figure 24.
To each of the said signal or point levers is connected a small crooked or tapered
slide 7, Figure 24, which works in the slots in No. 3 slide, so that-when-one of these
levers is pulled over No. 3 slide will be shot into the slots or holes k in Nos. 1-and-2
slides-(provided-the_gates_are_properly_closed), thereby preventing the gates being
opened or even the catches or bolts being raised so long as the point or signal levers
or any one of them remain over; but should the gates be open or partially open the
slots in Nos. 1 and 2 slides will not be in a position to allow No. 3 slide to enter,
and will therefore prevent the said levers being worked, whereby the attendant will
at once perceive that the gates are not properly shut, and must properly close the
same to enable him to pull over the levers. We do not confine ourselves to use
three slide bars only, as the number of such sliding bars may be increased or
diminished as circumstances may render most convenient.
When our improved apparatus is worked from above the ground level we protect
the chief working parts of the mechanism by suitable caps or coverings indicated
at P, Fig. 32, made either of metal, wood, or any other suitable material in order
to preserve them from injury by the action of the weather or otherwise.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner of carrying the same into operation, we would have it
understood that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details hereinbefore
described, as the same admit of various modifications; what we claim is as follows:-
1°. We claim the principle of placing the whole of the connections, gearing,
fastenings, locks, and other portions of the apparatus above the ground level,
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before set forth and
described.
2°. We claim the general arrangement of our improved apparatus for opening
and closing railway level crossing or other gates whether placed above or below the
ground level, which apparatus acts simultaneously on near or distant and fog
railway signals, and entirely controls the working of the crossing signals, substan-
tially as herein before described and illustrated.
3°. We claim fixing a separate and distinct "gate signal" over each line of rails
in order to avoid all danger of injury to the gates, together with the mechanism for
working the same, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
4. We claim the use of the improved form of pulley,, as shewn in Fig. 23 of the
accompanying Drawings, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-
before. described.
5° We claim the arrangement of the slotted slide as shewn in Figs: 20, 21, and
22, of the accompanying Drawings,, substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein before described and illustrated.
G. We claim the improved means for raising, or lowering, the gates when
necessary, substantially as hereinbefore.described and illustrated.
7. We claim the improved arrangement, of a double wicket swung on a centre
post.in combination with the other parts of the mechanism as applied to railway
and other crossings, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before
described and illustrated.
8°. We claim the employment of mitre wheels or angle levers in combination
with revolving shafts or sliding rods for the purpose of varying the direction of the
different parts of the mechanism, substantially as herein before described and
illustrated.

page_text: 9°. We claim the improved arrangement of interlocking apparatus, substantially
in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Seddon, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
ELT & Co.,
British & Foreign Patent Office,
33, Southampton Buildings,
Holborn,
London,
W.C.
H. SEDDON. (L.S.)