IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNAL AND AND SWITCH APPARATUS FOR RAILWAYS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Livesey and John Edwards, of 9, Victoria
Chambers, Westminster, and William Jeffreys, of 43, Cooper's Road, Old
Kent Road, Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNAL AND
"
Sealed the 23rd August 1867, and dated the 27th February 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Livesey, John
Edwards, and William Jeffreys at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 27th February 1867.
We, JAMES LIVESEY, and JOHN EDWARDS, of 9, Victoria Chambers, West-
minster, and WILLIAM JEFFREYS, of 48, Cooper's Road, Old Kent Road,
Surrey, do hereby declare the mature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SIGNAL AND SWITCH APPARATUS FOR RAILWAYS," to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to an improved back lock applied to what is known
as signal-locking apparatus; this back lock is fixed to the quadrant bars, and
is connected to those levers which are required to actuate it; this lock is made
to rise in front of a projecting stop on the lever, thus preventing the lever
being moved back.
To a method of locking.signals and switches by means of a bar fixed under the
rail or switch; to this bar a stop is fixed which is made to lock the switch when
the semaphore, signal to which it is connected is actuated, and thus prevents
the signal being given unless the switches or points are in their true position.
By a further arrangement we cause the train to lock the switches or points
while it is passing over, so as to prevent the signal man moving the points
during the passing of the train.

page_text: To a method of counteracting expansion of signal cords or point rods; to
the connections of the points and signals we attach suitable compensating
springs, so that the points shall always be firmly closed and the signals in
their true position.
To an improved distant signal which is so formed that passing trains are
made to actuate suitable connections which permit the signal to return to the
danger position should the signal man omit to do his duty. Also to signal posts
made of iron, and so constructed that they may be, when necessary, trans-
ported in separate lengths, and built up at their destination; these posts are
formed of metal plates, coiled in the form of an elongated volute, or of tubes
of cast or wrought iron jointed in any suitable manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Livesey, John Edwards and William Jeffreys, in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th August 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS. SHALL COME, we, JAMES
LIVESEY and JOHN EDWARDS, of 9, Victoria Chambers, Westminster, and
WILLIAM JEFFREYS, of 43, Cooper's Road, Old Kent Road, Surrey, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said James Livesey, John Edwards, and William Jeffreys, Her special
licence that we, the said James Livesey, John Edwards, and William Jeffreys,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
James Livesey, John Edwards, and William Jeffreys, our executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNAL AND SWITCH APPARATUS FOR RAILWAYS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said James Livesey,
John Edwards, and William Jeffreys, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to

page_text: be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Edwards, on behalf of myself and
of the said James Livesey and William Jeffreys, do hereby declare the nature
of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters aud
figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
Our Invention of "Improvements in Signal and Switch Apparatus for
Railways" consists, with reference to signal apparatus in an improved back
lock applied to what is known as signal locking apparatus; this back lock is
fixed to the quadrant bars, and is connected to those levers which are required
to actuate it. This lock is made to rise in front of a projecting stop on the
lever required to be back locked, and thereby prevent this lever from being
moved back until the lever to which the back lock is connected has been first
moved back.
And our Invention, with reference to switch apparatus, consists in the
arrangement of apparatus herein-after described by means of which the train
is caused to lock the switch or points while it is passing over them by presenting
an impediment to the rising of a bar connected with the lever for working the
points, and thereby preventing the signal man from moving the points during.
the passing of the train.
Having thus stated, the nature of the said Invention, we will proceed to
describe more particula. n what manner the same is to be performed
by reference to the acconing Drawings, in which are represented the
signal and switch apparatus above referred to.
:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS,
Fig. 1 represents the back lock apparatus which is shewn as fixed to the
quadrant bars, or it may be fixed to any other suitable part of the frame, and
is worked as required by means of the lever A; this lever is connected to
the back lock B by means of the rod D, so that when the lever A is pulled
over it causes the back lock B to rise in front of a stop C fixed in the lever E,
and while the back lock B remains in this position it offers an effectual.
obstruction to the putting back of the lever E (or any one of the levers so
back locked) until the lever A to which the back lock is connected has been
first put back and the back lock thereby removed out of the path traversed by
the stop C on the putting back of the lever E.
The switch apparatus is represented in Figures 2. to 7.

page_text: Fig. 2 is a side elevation, Fig. 3 a plan or horizontal view, and Fig. 4 an
end elevation of one mode of carrying our Invention into effect.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 are corresponding views of another mode of accomplishing
the same purpose.
"A is a bar of iron of any required length and size fixed at the side of the
rail (by preference the rail next to the stock rail); this bar is fitted so as to
be capable of moving on centres B, B, fixed to the rail, and is connected to
the rod C by means of the connecting rod D and crank E; this crank E is
connected to the rod C, which is connected to the crank K, which is connected
to the rod F, which rod is connected to the lever for working the points G.
When the rod F is acted upon by this lever for the purpose of shifting the
points G, the bar A is caused (through its connection with the rod C by
means of the rod D and crank E) to make a semi-revolution on its centres of
motion B, B, and in this manner is caused in its motion, when unimpeded, to
rise above the top of the rail. As however the wheels of the train are always
over or on this bar while it is passing over the points it is obvious that the
bar cannot be raised, and consequently that the points cannot at such time be
moved.
In Figures 5, 6, and 7 are represented another mode of accomplishing the
In this
same object by means of a bar differently fitted to the side of the rail.
case the bar A is mounted on a pivot or centre of motion L at one end, and
has formed at its reverse end two or more notches, in one of which the point
of the crank H rests; this bar is connected to the points, as shewn in Fig. 6,
and when the points G are moved as required the point of the crank H
(which is moved at the same time) is caused to raise the end of the bar A,
which by describing an are allows the point of the crank to pass into the next
notch.
It will be seen, however, that as the wheels of a train passing over the
points are always on or over the bar they offer an impediment to the raising
of the end of the bar, and thereby prevent the possibility of moving the points
again before the train has passed over them.
We have thus described two modes of accomplishing our object of causing
the train to lock the points and keep them locked while passing over them,
consisting of two different modes of fitting and acting on the bar, and we
would remark that the apparatus connected with the bar for the purpose may
be varied, so long as the bar itself is of greater length than the base of the two
pairs of wheels, and is fitted to the rail in such a manner as to admit of its
being worked in the manner described.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and in what

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, we hereby declare that what we claim
as of our Invention is,-
First, with reference to signal apparatus the adaptation and application
thereto of a back lock as described, by means of which one lever is caused
to lock another by its direct commuunication with the back lock, as herein-
before described.
And, secondly, with reference to switch apparatus the adaptation and
application thereto of a bar and its connections, by means of which the train
as it passes over the points is caused to lock the switches and to keep them
locked until the whole of the train has passed over them.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Edwards, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
JOHN EDWARDS. (L.S.)

page_text: [LIVESEY, EDWARDS, AND JEFFREY'S PATENT.]
Filed 27th January 1870.
In the Matter of Letters Patent granted to JAMES LIVESEY and
JOHN EDWARDS, of 9, Victoria Chambers, Westminster, and
WILLIAM JEFFREYS, of 43, Cooper's Road, Old Kent Road,
Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNAL AND SWITCH
APPARATUS FOR RAILWAYS," bearing date at Westminster, the
27th day of February 1867, No. 547.
DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION as proposed to
be entered by JOHN SAXBY and JOHN STINSON FARMER, of Kilburn,
Manufacturers of Railway Signals, and Assignees of the said Letters
Patent, pursuant to the Statutes in that case made and provided.
WHEREAS Her Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters Patent under
the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-seventh day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the
thirtieth year of Her reign, did give and grant unto the said James

page_text: Livesey, John Edwards, and William Jeffreys, their executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, the sole privilege of making, using, exercising,
and vending the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNAL AND SWITCH
APPARATUS FOR RAILWAYS," within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, for and during the
term of fourteen years thence next ensuing:
And whereas in pursuance of a proviso in the said Letters Patent
contained the said James Livesey, John Edwards, and William Jeffreys
did, within six calendar months next after the date of the said Letters
Patent, cause a Specification in writing under their or one of their
hands and seal, purporting to describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, to
be duly filed in the Great Seal Patent Office:
And whereas the said Letters Patent have been assigned to, and
became, and now are vested in your Petitioners, the said John Saxby
and John Stinson Farmer:
And whereas since the filing of the said Specification, we, the said
John Saxby and John Stinson Farmer, have discovered that part of
the said Invention, as described and claimed in the said Specification,
may be objected to on the ground, that as described and claimed it
was not new, and further that the description of the switch apparatus
is not sufficiently precise, and in consequence thereof we hereby disclaim
and alter parts of the title of the said Invention and of the said
Specification and claiming clauses in manner following, that is to say:
From the title of the said Invention we disclaim and omit the words
signal and." In page 3 of the Queen's Printers' copy of the Final
Specification from line 9 to line 17 inclusive we disclaim and omit
the words "our Invention of," and also all the words following down
to and including the words "and our" at the beginning of line 17, and
in that line we insert the word "The" before the word Invention. In
"
toe insert between the
^
and the words
^
line 19 of the same page
we-diselaim-and-emit-the words "while it is,'
the words coming up to and"
passing over them" And in line 26 of the same page we disclaim
and omit the words "signal and," and after the words referred to we add
the following words, "and also signal apparatus, which we do not claim
"as forming any part of the said Invention." In page 4, line 15, we
disclaim and omit the word "always," which occurs between the words
"train are" and the words "over or." In page 4, line 29, we disclaim

page_text: and omit the word "always," which occurs between the words " points
are "and the word "on or." In page 5, we disclaim and omit the first
claiming clause from the words "first with" down to the words "before
described;" and in the second claiming clause we disclaim and omit the
words "it passes over the points" we insert the words "herein-before
described." And the said Specification when disclaimed, altered, and
amended will read as follows:-
"And, secondly." And in place of the words
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Livescy, John Edwards, and William
Jeffreys in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th August 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
LIVESEY and JOHN EDWARDS, of No. 9, Victoria Chambers, Westminster,
and WILLIAM JEFFREYS, of 43, Cooper's Road, Old Kent Road, Surrey,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the
thirtieth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said James Livesey, John Edwards, and
William Jeffreys, Her special license that we, the said James Livesey,
John Edwards, and William Jeffreys, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or er such others as we, the said James Livesey, John Edwards,
and William Jeffreys, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, usc, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SWITCH APPARATUS FOR RAILWAYS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that we, the said James Livesey, John
Edwards, and William Jeffreys, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent..
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Edwards, on behalf of myself
and of the said James Livesey and William Jeffreys, do hereby declare

page_text: the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say) :-
:-
while it is coming up to and passing over them
^
The Invention, with reference to switch apparatus, consists in the
arrangement of apparatus herein-after described by means of which
the train is caused to lock the switch or points by presenting an im-
pediment to the rising of a bar connected with the lever for working
the points, and thereby preventing the signalman from moving the
points during the passing of the train.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, we will proceed
to describe more particularly in what manner the same is to be per-
formed by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which are
represented the switch apparatus above referred to, and also signal
apparatus, which we do not claim as forming any part of the said
Invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents the back lock apparatus, which is shown as fixed
to the quadrant bars, or it may be fixed to any other suitable part of the
frame, and is worked as required by means of the lever A; this lever is
connected to the back lock B by means of the rod D, so that when the
lever A is pulled over it causes the back lock B to rise in front of a
stop C fixed in the lever E, and while the back lock B remains in this
position it offers an effectual obstruction to the putting back of the
lever E (or any one of the levers so back locked) until the lever A to
which the back lock is connected has been first put back, and the back
lock thereby removed out of the path traversed by the stop C on the
putting back of the lever E.
The switch apparatus is represented in Figures 2 to 7. Figure 2 is a
side elevation, Fig. 3 a plan or horizontal view, and Figure 4 an end
elevation of one mode of carrying our Invention into effect.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 are corresponding views of another mode of
accomplishing the same purpose.
A is a bar of iron of any required length and size fixed at the side of
the rail (by preference the rail next to the stock rail); this bar is fitted

page_text: so as to be capable of moving on centres B, B, fixed to the rail, and is
connected to the rod C by means of the connecting rod D and crank E;
this crank E is connected to the rod C, which is connected to the
crank K, which is connected to the rod F, which rod is connected to
the lever for working the points G.
When the rod F is acted upon by
this lever for the purpose of shifting the points G, the bar A is caused
(through its connection with the rod C by means of the rod D and
crank E) to make a semi-revolution on its centres of motion B, B, and
in this manner is caused in its motion, when unimpeded, to rise above
the top of the rail. As, however, the wheels of the train are over or on
this bar while it is passing over the points, it is obvious that the bar
cannot be raised, and consequently that the points cannot at such time
be moved.
In Figures 5, 6, and 7 are represented another mode of accomplishing
the same object by means of a bar differently fitted to the side of the
rail. In this case the bar A is mounted on a pivot or centre of motion L
at one end, and has formed at its reverse end two or more notches, in
one of which the point of the crank H rests; this bar is connected to the
points, as shewn in Figure 6, and when the points G are moved, as
required, the point of the crank H (which is moved at the same time)
is caused to raise the end of the bar A, which by describing an arc
allows the point of the crank to pass into the next notch.
It will be scen, however, that as the wheels of a train passing over
the points are on or over the bar they offer an impediment to the raising
of the end of the bar, and thereby prevent the possibility of moving the
points again before the train has passed over them.
We have thus described two modes of accomplishing our object of
causing the train to lock the points and keep them locked while passing
over them, consisting of two different modes of fitting and acting on the
bar, and we would remark that the apparatus connected with the bar for
the purpose may be varied, so long as the bar itself is of greater length
than the base of the two pairs of wheels, and is fitted to the rail in such
a manner as to admit of its being worked in the manner described.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, we hereby declare that what we
claim as of our Invention is, with reference to switch apparatus, the
adaptation and application thereto of a bar and its connections, by means
of which the train, as herein-before described, is caused to lock the

page_text: Temple, January 20, 1870.
R. P. COLLIER,
Attorney-General.