and Signal Apparatus.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 11th June, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 3rd Aug., 1888
Point and Signal Apparatus.
JOSEPH HILL of 85 Merrow Street, Walworth Engineer, WILLIAM SMITH of 150
Mayall Road Herne Hill, Engineer and JOHN PATRICK O'DONNELL of Cambridge
Villa, Cambridge Road, New Malden Signal Engineer and Patent Agent, all in
the County of Surrey do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its chief object the reduction of signal levers at a Junction
of Railway points, at the same time providing the means of locking the points and of
detecting any failure in their proper working or in the proper working of the Bolt or
Blade which locks them.
•
The mechanism of our apparatus is contained in any suitable box or protective case
fixed to one or more sleepers (or a bed plate connected thereto) alongside of, or between
the rails at a Junction.
The Bachine (now known as the "Simplex" ground locking gear) comprised in this
invention, may be described as a developement of that form of Hill and O'Donnell's
ground locking gear in which the selecting draw Bar is carried by the throw of the
switch points stretcher Bar (or a substitute therefor), and when carried into gear,
selects, draws and returns one of two signal slide bars held in stationary bearings.
According to the present invention, more or less radial action is substituted for the
parallel draft action of the prior apparatus, whilst some other less prominently
observable, but very essential arrangements are introduced, necessary for the satis-
factory working of the Machine.
When these Machines are arranged for a single set of bars A. B and C, they may
be bedded on a single sleeper, like an ordinary plunger bolt lock, but when for a
double machine, where the secondary set works crosswise to the primary set, then they
may be arranged to extend beyond one sleeper, so that bars working crosswise may
have their connections leading more easily away from the carriage track.
Figure 1 is a plan of a "Simplex" Machine with a single set of bars; the selecting
draw Bar B is here in an intermediate position, having its arms or fixed cross bar,

page_text: neither fully engaged with, nor wholly free from either its right or left hand signal
slide Bars. In Figure 2 B is shewn in position after having drawn A whereby the
Stop Signal Arm has been lowered to safety; and the Switch points detected and
locked.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the set of Bars, shewn free of the case as in the position
of Figure 2. Figure 4 is an elevation, and Figure 5 a plan of the peculiar form of
the Stretcher Bar; the aperture on the upper face, carries the Bar, whilst the apertures
on the underside, are plunged by the locking parts of the bars A and C respectively,
when the draft movement is given to the selected one by the bar B. The Stretcher
Bar is furnished with strengthening pieces round about its carrying aperture. B is
worked in the ordinary way through crank and rod connections, by a cabin frame
lever, but of course any local motor (electric, pneumatic or other) may replace manual
power, and change the means of distant connection.
The necessity will be apparent of giving length to the rod B, and also of employing
a crank with arms of greater length than usual, so that the radial action of B (carried
say about or nearly a throw of four inches with the movement of the switch point
stretcher.bar) shall work satisfactorily with its right and left hand slide bars, however
it has been discovered that, by tapering or narrowing the end portion of B, which
portion has a draft movement through and a bearing in the carrying aperture of the
stretcher bar, all the essentials for an easy draft movement are obtained within a
moderate limit of length. That part of B nevertheless, which has a bearing in the
aperture in the stretcher bar, when B is fully returned, and when the stretcher bar is
therefore ready to carry B across from A to C, should be of full width, whilst the
upright sides of the aperture will be slightly curved to conform to the radial inclinations
of B. It will thus be perceived that the tapered or narrowed portion of B never
crosses the aperture in the stretcher bar, until after the detecting action of the machine
is completed, and the locking action has commenced.
The right and left slide bars A and C may work at right angles to the stretcher bar;
optionally however they may somewhat case the movement of B, by resting in slightly
converging bearings, so as to partially conform to the radial inclinations of B without
appreciable loss of firmness in their detecting functions.
The apparatus explained above, may be varied in many ways, amongst others, in
some style after the manner of the apparatus referred to in Hill and O'Donnell's prior
Specification No. 6661 A.D. 1886-Figure 6 shews a double apparatus with the
secondary set working crosswise to the slide bars A and C. Here D is the left hand
secondary slide bar, crossing detecting and locking, the primary slide bar A, whilst F
is the right hand slide bar of the secondary set, crossing, detecting and locking the
other slide bar C of the primary set. To instance the requirements of a common case
of employment, D would be connected to the (say) branch line Distant Signal and
F would be connected to the (say) main line Distant Signal, it being supposed that A
be connected to the branch line Stop Signal and to the main line Stop Signal-The
selecting draw bar E of the secondary set, is here shown furnished (Figure 6) with a
different kind of gearing from that with which B worked the Signal slide bars A
and C of the primary set. E is furnished with a rocking lever årm, having its
extremities always reaching to or past D and F. When E is drawn and returned by
rod and crank connections from a cabin frame lever the rocking lever arm propels
either D or F according to the selection which may have been made for the draft of
one and the locking of the other.
The selection of D for its draft movement by E will depend upon the prior draft
of A, whereby the underneath secondary locking part a' of A is carried clear of the
locking part d¹ on the upper face of D. Similarly the selection of F for its draft
movement by E will depend upon the prior draft of whereby the secondary under-
neath locking part c¹ of C is carried clear of the locking part on the upper face
of F.
It will be observed that as power is applied to the lever G, through E at the point
where G and E cross, the fulcrum of G will be at one time a point in D and at
another time a point in F, accordingly as to whether D is locked and F free, or

page_text: Flocked and D free, it is of course the free sliding bar which is drawn by the move-
ment of E carrying G.
Just as the locking pieces on the upper faces of the primary bars A and C, not only
locked, but detected the movements of the switch points, through the inter actions of
the said locking pieces with their counterpart apertures in the stretcher bar, so like-
wise not only interlocking actions, but also inter-detecting actions are performed by
the mutual inter-actions of the underneath secondary locking parts on the upper faces
of the secondary bars D and F.
A double machine like that in Figure 6 may be used otherwise than by connecting
its primary sliding bars A and C to stop signals, and its secondary sliding bars D
and F to Distant Signals.
In Figure 7 two separate single machines are shewn doing the work first. proposed
to be done by the double machine of Figure 6. A. B and C represent a primary set
working two Stop Signals M and N by the Cabin Frame lever No. 3 whilst D. E.
and F represent a secondary set working the distant Signals O and P by the Cabin
Frame lever No. 2. In the latter case the bars D and F work crosswise to and inter-
lock with the Signal connections of A and C, but many different arrangements may
be made for effecting the same object or even an ordinary set may be employed (in
lieu of D. E and F) working crosswise to a prolongation of the stretcher bar, passing
through a machine, alongside the points, but outside the carriage track, and in this
case the interlocking of the two sets may be arranged independently of the two
machines.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1stly. For lever saving ground locking apparatus, the apparatus comprising the
set of bars A. B and C; whereof B with more or less radial action, engages with A
or C and (as a Signal is worked) becomes the medium of interlocking and detecting
actions.
2ndly. Applying crosswise to a primary set or its connections, a secondary set. of
lever saving ground locking gear, whether the engaging mechanism used therefor, be
identical with, similar to, or any ordinary known substitute for the engaging gear of
our first claim.
3rdly. The form of switch point stretcher bar having a carrying aperture (devoid of
direct locking functions) for the sideways carriage of the selecting Draw Bar B, into
and out of gear, with the right and left hand Signal slide Bars A and C of the
primary set.
4thly. Giving a tapering or narrowed form to that part or parts of any bar of any
set of our present or any similar lever saving ground locking gear, which part or
parts may have a draft movement through a bearing or bearings, whilst no direct
locking functions are dependent upon such bar that is to say whilst other bars are
preferably bearing the necessary locking strain.
Dated this 12th da of Fohr 1000

page_text: Improvements in the Working and Ground Interlocking of Railway
Point and Signal Apparatus.
We, JOSEPH HILL of 85 Merrow Street, Walworth, in the County of Surrey
Engineer, WILLIAM SMITH of 150 Mayall Road, Herne Hill, aforesaid Engineer and
JOHN PATRICK O'DONNELL of Cambridge Road, New Malden, aforesaid, Civil Engineer
and Patent Agent 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 :-
The principal objects of this invention are reduction of levers at railway junctions;
improved point lock, "detector" or mechanical spy; and generally perfected inter-
locking for the safety of traffic movements at railway junctions and level crossings.
The apparatus to some extent simplifies and supersedes cabin frame lever
interlocking.
A suitable box or case holds and protects the mechanism which is employed in the
locality of the switch points themselves.
The interior mechanism consists of one or more sets of sliding blades or bars each
set comprising a right band (A or D in all designs) slide bar and a left hand (C or F)
slide bar with a middle selector or motor bar (B or E) put into movement by means
of a cabin frame lever and rod-and-crank or wire connections in the general way or by
means of any local (electric or other motive power) apparatus.
If a primary set and a secondary set are combined in one common box for mutually
interlocking, the primary set A, C (say for stop signals) will work crosswise to the
stretcher bar of the switch points and therefore will lie in the direction of the carriage
track whilst the secondary set D, F (say for distant signals) will work crosswise to
the primary set and approximately parallel to the said stretcher bar, as in Figure 6.
However a secondary set may be separated from the primary set and placed in its
own box crosswise to any suitable part of the rod-and-crank or wire connections
leading from A and C to their respective signals as in figuro 7.
In primary sets one of principal features of novelty consists in giving the selector
bar B a kind of radial movement to and fro by which it alternately engages with and
disengages from the one or the other of its set of signal slide bars A and C. It is the
stretcher bar, tie rod, or crossbar H of the switch points S S¹ which carries the selector
bar B through its to-and-fro movement with the change of the switch points.
This action of the selector bar B is effected by an aperture in the stretcher bar H
(figures 4 and 5) such opening affording a bearing in which B is carried for its
engaging and disengaging motions and through which B makes its draft and return
motions to work the selected signal slide bar, simultaneously thereby but indirectly
detecting and plunging the switch points.
Also in secondary sets (D, E, F) one cabin faame lever can work the draft and
return motions of D and F and thus actuate the one or the other of the distant
Bignals.

page_text: The selection however in the latter case only depends indirectly upon the position
of the switch point stretcher bar II; for it is the positions of A and C or their con
nections which determine at any time whether D and F are both locked or one released
and the other locked. The free signal slide bar of course is the one that has to be
drawn and returned by the cabin frame lever (possibly through the medium of a joint
selector bar) whilst the selected one must perforce be in agreement with the prior
drawn stop signal.
The different complete arrangements exhibit the features of novelty so as to instance
their capacity for developement in details of secondary importance. Figures 4 and 5
shew a plan and an elevation of a stretcher bar H where the aperture ¹ is on the top
of FL. The peculiar novelty of H is found in the use and form of the opening h¹
in-as-much as this special opening is the conductor and guide of a selector bar
which has not itself necessarily any direct detecting and locking actions for which
similar openings have been hitherto provided.
At figure 1 which is a plan of a single primary set, B.is shewn in an intermediate
position completely engaged neither with A nor with C.
At figure 2 B is shewn disengaged from C, engaged fully with A, and drawn forth
to lead A into the position whereby the arm of the branch line stop signal is held
lowered to the safety attitude and whereby the switch points are held bolt locked.
Figure 3 gives a side elevation of A, B, and C free of their surroundings, but in
the same position as in figure 2. Figures 4 and 5 shew the stretcher bar H in plan
and in elevation; the openings at the bottom are for detecting and locking purposes;
the parts a' and c¹ of the pair of signal slide bars A and C work into and out of the
openings at the bottom of H in their ordinary routine of detecting, locking, and
releasing functions.
Under the phrase "secondary sets" we class all arrangements of pairs of signal
slide bars when such bars do not work crosswise to an actual switch point stretcher
bar, or a sidewise prolongation of the same outside the carriage track, but on the con-
trary when they work crosswise to the slide bars (or their connections) of another set
whose action has been pre-determined by the position of the said stretcher bar or its
substitute.
Secondary sets may be combined with primary sets in a common box as in figure 6
where D of the secondary set works crosswise with A of the primary set whilst F of
the secondary set works crosswise with C of the primary set. In an ordinary instance
then I would be connected with the branch distant signal whilst I would be connected
with the main distant signal.
To effect again a saving in the number of cabin frame levers D and F of the
secondary set may be worked by a single common lever through the intervention of a
kind of selector bar E though the mechanism in this case somewhat differs from that
used with the selector bar B of the primary set. Whilst the means of engagement
of B with A or C is gearing in the form of a fixed arm or projection temporarily
engaging with the counterpart projections or openings in or on A or C, the means of
engagement of E with D or F may be a swinging or rocking lever arm always
extending from D to F and thereby dispensing with the to-and-fro carriage of E.
The selection of D for its draft movement by E. will depend upon the preceding
draft of A whereby the locking piece a² on the lower face of A shall have cleared the
locking piece d² on the upper face of D. Similarly the selection of F for its draft
movement by E will depend upon the prior draft of C whereby the lower locking
picce c² of C shall have released the upper locking piece f² of F.
As in primary sets all the locking pieces a¹ on the face of A and c' on the face of C
lock and unlock the switch points in position on passing throught their counterpart
openings in the stretcher bar H, so also do the locking pieces and fon passing
their counterpart pieces a² and c detect, back lock and release A and C respectively.
The advantage is shewn by the fact that just as each distant signal can back lock and
back release its stop signal, so each distant signal is itself hell locked at "danger"
until after its own stop signal has been lowered to "safety."

page_text: Although two variations of gearing for selector bars have been alluded to, that first
and more fully described (the radial and more positive engagement of B by the
employment of the carrying aperture in the stretcher H) is it may be here remarked
most suited to a primary set, the other kind of gearing seems most suited for the plan
of a secondary set, where there are found difficulties in the way of substituting a
carrying cross bar of simple construction for the regular switch point stretcher bar of
the primary. set. Nevertheless each kind of gearing might just possibly with slight
modification be adapted for other situations.
Figure 7 is a diagram, suggesting how a primary set can be placed at the switch
points, and a secondary set more or less at a distance from the primary set in lieu of
the two sets being comprised in a common box. The closer combination excels in
locking, whilst the separate plan excels in detecting actions.
We hereby abandon as an independent claim, that numbered fourth in the
provisional specification as constituting only a minor though useful detail.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1stly. The apparatus or ground locking gear, comprising A, B and C of which B
with somewhat of a radial action engages with A or with Cand (as a signal is worked)
becomes the medium of interlocking and detecting actions.
2ndly. The application of a secondary set of ground locking gear, crosswise to the
above primary set, or crosswise to the connections of the same.
3rdly. The forms of switch point stretcher bars, used for point locking, containing
apertures, gaps, or openings resembling, and devoted to similar unique purposes
(namely to carrying sidewise to and fro bars possessing bearings in such gaps, and
receiving their movement of being drawn forth and returned through such gaps not
directly for the sake of the locking and unlocking actions, which can be preferably
managed by the movements and counterpart actions of other parts of the mechanism.
Dated this 11th day of June 1888.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, C.E., M.I.M.E., &c.,
New Malden, Surrey,
Agent for the Applicants.