Improvements in and relating to the Setting, Operating, and Adjusting of the Switch Points of Railways, and Mechanism therefor..
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1889
Commulak. Soncineation Left. 13th Jan. 1900 Accepted, 15th Fab
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Setting, Operating, and
Adjusting of the Switch Points of Railways, and Mechanism
therefor..
I HENRY WILLIAMS of Gowan Brae Crosshill Glasgow Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Having regard and referring to Letters Patent granted unto me, and numbered 2824
of 1887. My said invention now here described is a direct extension and developement
of my main ideas devices or mechanism employed or in some parts only partially
The present
described or carried out in my above Letters Patent referred to.
developements have reference to and comprise new or improved constructions, or
arrangements and combinations of the parts of mechanism acting in consort with
springs for setting, operating and adjusting the Switch Points of Railways and specially
applicable to the safety switches or runaway trap points and also trailing points in
general and to be more simple giving automatic action and adjustment with greater
efficiency than the mechanism heretofore in use. According to one arrangement of
my Improvements applicable to the runaway switches or trap points I use a box or
case preferably of rectangular shape in plan and having the sides carried down
vertically at an angle at the one end to form an enlarged vertical space or pocket for
a lever to work in, as will hereinafter be described. A rod or spindle would be carried
horizontally through bearing holes formed in the ends of this box or case and would
be connected to the switch, or the link or rod which operates same when that is used.
A spiral spring would be mounted round this rod inside the case, the one end of spring
bearing against jam nuts or equivalent bearing screwed or fitted on the rod, and the
other end abutting up against the one end of case. A vertically slotted longitudinal
hole would be formed through this horizontal rod of sufficient length to allow of the
travel of the switch points at the opposite end of the case to the spring, and through
this slot would pass and work a vertical or angled hand lever. The lower end of this
lever would be fulcrumed on a horizonal pin at the lower end of the vertical pocket of
case, and would pass up through slot and case for being operated by hand above or
worked by connections from any desired place. When an engine or train passes
through or bursts open the railway points trailing ways the flange of the wheel operates
the switches, and these through the connecting rod compresses the spring in the
case, but when the vehicle or train has passed through the points, the recoil of
the spring will automatically and without any lateral bump or strain operate the
switches and return them to their original or safety position against the stock or
line rail. Instead of the spring in the case being in compression it may be made to
act in tension with exactly the same result. When single line working is wanted, for
the trains to run in both directions on the same line, the hand lever is used to shift the
switches, this is effected by drawing or operating the lever by hand to the side
through the slot, which action operates the rod and shifts the switches, and when the
train has passed, the recoil of the spring brings the lever and switches to their
original positions. A removable cover may be screwed or bolted to the top of the
case to give access to the mechanism within; and a chain could attach the hand
lever to the case to prevent its being carried away. Instead of the vertical or angled
pocket being formed in the lower part of the case it may be formed and fulcrumed
at the upper part and have its lower end carried down through the slot in the rod or
spindle to operate the spring and switch connections only in this case the hand lever
And instead of a slot
would be pulled in the opposite direction to the former case.
being formed in the rod the lever might be connected to a bridge piece formed to span
the rod and to bear on or against the jam nuts or a collar or suitable projection on rod
to compress the spring and so move the connections. Thus the operation of the

page_text: horizontal rod or spindle would be moved into its normal or position for safety by the
force of the spring and moved in the opposite direction when its switch points are
being burst open or slammed to by the flanges of the engine or vehicles passing over
them without any movement in the vertical working lever and by this means giving
the operation of the switches a perfect graceful and automatic action and dispensing
with all that thudding or side bumping now experienced at such points or switches.
Under another arrangement of my improvements I monnt a rod or rocking spindle
through the bearing ends of a semicircular or equivalent shaped casing or cap and
round this spindle I coil a volute spring of any desired number of turns or strength
having its one end bearing against the inside of the casing and the other end secured
to its rocking spindle. Two lugs or arms would be mounted on this spring rod or
spindle, having their outer ends passing through apertures in casing. To the one
arm the rod connecting switch points would be attached and to the other arm the
hand lever would be connected. When a vehicle or train was passing through the
points trailing ways, the switch points would be shifted and the volute spring within
the case would be compressed, but after the vehicle or train had passed, the recoil of
this spring would automatically return the switch points to their original position.
Likewise when the line is to be used as a single line for working traffic both ways,
the hand lever would be used to operate the switch points by compressing the spring,
the recoil of which after the train had passed through and hand lever was liberated
would automatically return switches and hand lever to their original position. Instead
of placing the operating hand lever in the same casing as, and to directly actuate the
spring connections in same, I by another arrangement would connect any ordinary
hand lever or connections from cabin or other desired place to the horizontal rod
or spindle at a point outside the case, or to a lug or projection therefrom, but in
this mode I would form a suitable slot therein so as to receive an ordinary joint
to be connected thereto and thus allow of the free operation of the horizontal rod
or spindle without moving the hand lever or its connections when trains or vehicles
pass through or burst open the switches trailing ways, but still allow of the hand
lever and its connections closing the switches against the action of the spring when
required for single line working. I would preferably in this case fit an anti-friction
thimble, sleeve, or pulley to work or turn freely on the connecting joint pin in this slot.
Dated this 13th day of April 1889.
HENRY WILLIAMS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Setting, Operating, and
Adjusting of the Switch Points of Railways, and Mechanism
therefor.
I, HENRY WILLIAMS of Gowan Brae Crosshill Glasgow Engineer 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:
Having regard and referring to Letters Patent granted unto me and numbered
2824 of 1887.
My said Invention now here described is a direct extension and developement of my
main ideas, devices, or mechanism employed or in some parts only partially described
or carried out in my above Letters Patent referred to.
The present developements have reference to and comprise new or improved con-
structions or arrangements and combinations of the parts of mechanism acting
in consort with spring or springs for setting operating and adjusting the switch
points of railways and specially applicable to the safety switches or runaway
trap points, and also trailing points in general and to be more simple giving auto-
matic, action and adjustment with greater efficiency than the mechanism heretofore
in use.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing or
carrying the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto

page_text: appended two explanatory sheets of Drawings, in which the same reference letters are
used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 is a sectional elevation of a ground lever and spring and slot
actuating mechanism as fitted within a box or casing, with portable operating
hand lever in a vertical acting position fitted on its fulcrumed lever, all as
constructed in accordance with one arrangement of my Improvements.
Figure 2 is a plan corresponding to Figure 1, but with the top cover removed to
show the inside mechanism.
Figure 3 is an end elevation corresponding to Figure 1.
Figure 4 is an elevation of another arrangement of my new or improved spring
and slot mechanism shown as fitted on the top of a sleeper or other suitable fixing
place to be connected to any ordinary ground lever; and Figure 5 is a plan
view corresponding to Figure 4, with its switch operating rod broken away.
Figure 6 is an elevation of a slightly modified arrangement of the spring and slot
mechanism shown in Figures 4 and 5.
Figures 7 and 8 are an end elevation and sectional side elevation respectively of a
ground lever and spring and slot actuating mechanism, as constructed in accordance
with my Improvements, and in which the operating lever is fulcrumed in the upper
part of its case, instead of below as in Figures 1 to 3.
Figure 9 is a plan view of a line of rails, showing one arrangement of my spring
and slot mechanism as applied thereto fixed to the sleeper, and which may be con-
nected up to any form of ground lever to operate the points.
Figure 10 is a plan view of a line of rails, showing an elliptic or blade spring as
fitted to the stock rail or switch, with the slotted connection which may be connected
to any ground lever.
Figure 11 shows an enlarged vertical section and plan respectively of the slot
arrangement shown in Figure 10.
Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of these Drawings:-
:-
According to this arrangement of my Improvements applicable to the runaway
switches or trap points or trailing points in general I use a box or case A preferably
of rectangular shape in plan and having the sides carried down vertically at an angle
at the one end to form an enlarged vertical space or pocket A¹ for a lever to work in
as will hereinafter be described. A rod or spindle B is carried horizontally through
bearing holes formed in the ends of this box or case A and would be connected at B¹
to the switch, or the link or rod which operates same when that is used. A spiral
spring Cis mounted round this rod B inside the case A, the one end of spring bearing
against a collar or washer C¹ supported by a transverse pin C or against jam nuts
as shown in Figure 8, or equivalent bearing screwed or fitted on the rod B, and the
other end of spring Cabutts up against the one end of case A. A vertically slotted
longitudinal hole B is formed through this horizontal rod B of sufficient length to
allow of the travel of the switch points at the opposite end of the case A to the
spring C, and through this slot B₁ passes and works a vertical or angled hand
lever D, D¹¹, the lower end of this lever D is fulcrumed on a horizontal pin D¹ at
the lower end of the vertical pocket A¹ of case A, and passes up through slot B¹¹
and case A for being operated by hand above, or worked by connections from any
desired place.
When an engine or train passes through or bursts open the railway points P, P¹,
trailing ways, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, the flange of the wheel operates the
switches, and these through the connecting rod b, b, compresses the spring C in the
case A, but when the vehicle or train has passed through the points P, P₁, the recoil
of the spring C will automatically and without any lateral bump or strain operate the
switches and return them to their original or safety position against the stock or line
rail R. Instead of the spring C in the case A being in compression as shown in the
Drawings it may be made to act in tension with exactly the same result.
When single line working is wanted, for the trains to run in both directions on the
same line the band lever D is used to shift the switches, this is effected by drawing
or operating the lever by hand to the side through the slot B" either in vertical position

page_text: or in horizontal position as shown in full and dotted lines respectively in Figure 1,
which action operates the rod B and shifts the switches P, P1 and when the train
has passed, the recoil of the spring. C brings the lever D, D and switches P, P¹ to
their original positions.
A removable cover A¹ is or may be screwed or bolted to the top of the case A to
give access to the mechanism within; and a chain could attach the portable hand
lever D¹ to the case A. to prevent its being carried away. Instead of the vertical or
angled pocket A¹ being forined in the lower part of case A as shown in Figures 1 to 3,
it may be formed and fulcrumed at D1 at the upper part as shown in Figures 7 and 8
and have its lower end carried down through the slot B in the rod or spindle B to
operate the spring C and switch connections, only in this case the portable hand
lever D would be pulled in the opposite direction to the former case. And instead
of a slot B being formed in the rod B the lever D might be connected to a bridge
piece formed to span the rod and to bear on or against the jam nuts C¹, C", or a
collar or suitable projection on the rod B to compress the spring () and so move the
connections.
Thus the operation of the horizontal or actuating rod or spindle B would be
moved into its normal or position for safety by the force of the spring C, and moved
in the opposite direction when its switch points P, P¹ are being burst open or slammed
to by the flanges of the engine or vehicles passing over them without any movement
in the vertical working lever D, D" and by this means giving the operation of the
switches a perfect, graceful and automatic action and dispensing with all that thudding
and side bumping now experienced at such points or switches P, P
Instead of placing the operating hand lever D, D" in the same casing A as and to
directly actuate the spring and slot connections in same I by another arrangement
would connect any ordinary hand lever or connections from cabin or other desired
place to the horizontal rod or spindle B travelling through a bearing or bracket A³
bolted to the sleeper S at a point outside the case A as shown in Figures 4 to 6 or to
a lug or projection therefrom as shown at a in Figures 9 to 11, but in this case I
would form a suitable slot B11 therein so as to receive an ordinary joint to be connected
thereto and thus allow of the free operation of the horizontal rod or spindle B, without
moving the lever D or its connections when trains or vehicles pass through or burst
open the switches P, P¹ trailing ways, but still allow of the lever and its connections
closing the switches P, P, against the action of the spring C when required for single
line working. I preferably in this case fit an antifriction thimble sleeve or pulley E
to work or turn freely on the connecting joint pin E¹ in this slot B which
may be either within the case A as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and 8 respectively,
or outside the case A as shown in the several positions in Figures 4 to 6
and 9 to 11, so as to facilitate the free graceful and noiseless action of the
complete device.
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 :
First.. The construction, or general arrangement and combination of the parts of
spring and slotted operating rod and lever mechanism for the setting. operating and
adjusting of the switch points of railways, substantially as herein described in reference
to and distinguished under the several applications shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. In mechanism for the setting, operating and adjusting of the switch points
of railways, the constructing and use of a reciprocating or oscillating spring or
equivalent actuated rod with slot or link operated by lever connections, sub-
stantially as and in the manner and for the advantages herein described in reference
to, and by way of application shown under several arrangements in the accompanying
Drawings..
Third. In mechanism for the setting, operating, and adjusting of the switch points
of railways, the constructing. and use of a reciprocating or oscillating spring, actuated

page_text: rod with slot, operated by lever connections, in combination with a covered
or protecting box or case, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown
in Figures 1 to 3, & 7, & 8, of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. In mechanism for the setting, operating, and adjusting of the switch points
of railways, the constructing and use of a covered protecting box or case formed or
fitted with a pocket chamber in which the operating lever is fulcrumed, substantially
as herein described, in reference to and shown in Figures 1 to 3 & 7 & 8 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. In mechanism for the setting, operating, and adjusting of the switch points
of railways, the constructing and use of an antifriction, thimble, sleeve, pulley, roller
or equivalent device working in the slot or link of the reciprocating or oscillating
spring rod, substantially as and for the purposes and advantages herein described in
reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Dated this 10th day of January 1890.
HENRY WILLIAMS.