AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING Railway Switches
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the " International
Patent Office," Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting En-
gineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
FOR OPERATING Railway Switches." —A communication from abroad by
LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the " International
Patent Office," Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting En-
gineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
FOR OPERATING RAILWAY SWITCHES." -A communication from abroad by
Adolph Schnabel and Theodor Henning, both of Bruchsal, Baden,
Germany.
Sealed the 12th July 1870, and dated the 24th January 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 24th January 1870.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,"
Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR OPERATING RAILWAY SWITCHES," a communication, to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to working the switches and signals of railways
in such a manner that the security of the traffic in railway stations no
longer depends on the attention of pointsmen. It is supposed that each

page_text: train enters and leaves the station in a prescribed way. The signals for
the different trains are connected in such a way that the starting signal
cannot be given to two trains at once which are crossing each other.
If all the switches upon which the train passes are in the right position
the starting signal shows only the word "practicable." The apparatus
gives a signal that it has been operated upon and that the switches are
in their right position. All the switches are tied fast while the train
passes over them, but they can be worked by hand when the train has
passed. The apparatus works with absolute security at a distance of
twelve thousand feet. If the apparatus from any cause cannot be used
the switches can be worked in the ordinary way. Apparatus constructed
hitherto for the same purpose in which signals and switches are worked
by levers and rods from a central point gives great security for the com-
munication, as the pointsman is obliged to work the switches and signals
in the prescribed manner, but they give no guarantee that the switches
or signals follows the working levers at the central point. Connections
longer than eight hundred feet for working the switch are liable to
become elastic, so that the hand lever goes faster than the switch pole,
and if the latter is kept from reaching the main rail the starting signal
is given although the switch is not in order.
At the central point of the railway station where all the lines can be
casily overlooked an accumulator is erected provided with as many tubes
as there are trains passing the station. The tubes for each train goes in
opposite direction to the latter and ends at the starting signal. At this
point and at each switch apparatus is erected as herein-after more fully
described. The transmission of power from the accumulator is effected
by means of water freed from air. Experiments have shown that by
heavy pressure air is eliminated from water, and that the latter is incom-
pressible and moves without friction and therefore without loss of power;
therefore tubes of small diameter, say three or four inches, may be used.
Each tube can be disconnected by means of a slide valve communicating
with the accumulator. By opening the slide valves the switches and
the signals are worked. The switch actuating apparatus is so arranged
that the water cannot pursue its course until the switch rail meets the
line or main rail. In the signal apparatus a small accumulator is
raised, which when the sigual has reached its prescribed position moves
downward. This small accumulator causes as high a pressure per square
inch as the main accumulator, but the water does not flow back in the
latter because its passage is stopped by a valve. The water rises within a

page_text: third accumulator which is inserted within the tubes at the central point;.
the pressure of this latter accumulator on the square inch is higher than
that of the main accumulator, but much lower than that of the signal
accumulator. At the rising of the third accumulator the workmen or
overlooker sees that the signal shows the word "practicable" and that
the line is open or clear for the train. When the train has entered or
left the station the tubes are discharged by working the valve in the open
air, and the switch actuating apparatus is moved back to its first position
by means of weights.
To work the switches a proportionate small power is required. The
apparatus works with ten atmospheres, may be of small size, this pressure
is the maximum pressure, by employing a higher pressure the two small
accumulators would be too large. The main accumulator is of the usual
construction and can be raised by hand or by steam power to its fixed
height; on its reaching this point by forcing in a screw a higher pressuré
is obtained, and the air completely eliminated.
. The working apparatus at the central point for the different trains are
arranged side by side in the following manner :- -By a common inlet pipe
the water is discharged from the accumulator, whilst an outlet pipe is
discharged into the open air; a pipe is connected to the switches and the
signals; a valve prevents the water from flowing back to the accu-
mulator, and by means of a cock the accumulator is disconnected from
the tubes.when necessary. By means of a hand lever the slide valve is
pressed downward and the water allowed to flow into the pipe, whilst
the outlet pipe is shut. The control accumulator which is raised by the
signal brings a small signal wing in a horizontal position, showing to tho
officer or engineer that the line is clear and open; upon the signal wing
the name of the train is marked. To prevent two trains which cross.
the way giving the starting signal at the same time the slide valve
is worked by a projection fixed, upon a horizontal flat piece of iron.
The latter slides during its downward movement into convenient
notches on the said bar, which must be fixed, whereas the flat piece of
iron is not in connection with the intermediate slide bars. By this
arrangement each slide bar can be fixed by means of the other. A
wooden case serves to prevent the water from freezing; for this purpose
all the parts that come in contact with water are lined with felt.
.
"
The apparatus serves to work a switch by which pass four trains; two
of the trains require a meeting of the switch rail, at the right side of the

page_text: line, and the other two require the switch rail to approach the main rail
at the left side of the main line. Each train is worked by independent
mechanism. The mechanism is all alike and is of the following con-
struction: A tube extending from the central joint opens under a
plunger which is raised by the pressure of the water and moves the
switch. The plunger being thus raised the water passes through openings
into a space in which the continuation of the tubes extending from the
central point is shut by means of a slide; the water by its pressure aids
to raise the slide bar and to open the said slide. This is only possible by
means of a slide bar. passing through a horizontal bar; the latter moves
with the switches and is perforated with holes directly above the bars
when the switch rail lies close to the main rail. In this case the slide
bar riscs, locks the switch, opens the valve, and allows the water to flow
to the next switch or on to the signal. When the plunger moves the
switch in the direction of the horizontal bar it catches under a weight
bar, and in the opposite case under another weight bar. The levers in
connection with the weight bars form an arrangement like that of a
weighing apparatus. The first weight bar may be imagined to be the
beam board on the lever placed at an angle of 90% may be considered the
scale of the balance and may be the fixed point below the beam board.
I thus have therefore an arrangement wherein it is immaterial at which
The bosses of
point the plunger strikes the bar for raising the same.
two levers are arranged so that the first lever in raising the first weight
brings the latter in the desired position if it is not so already, and may
move downward without working upon the levers. These levers have
no communication with each other. The levers connected with the first
weight are similar but work the switch in the opposite direction.
It may be observed that this mechanism can be replaced by simple
angle levers if only four plungers are employed. The train having
passed the switch and the pipe at the central point being in connection
with the discharging pipe, the bars being constructed as counterweights
press the plunger downward, and this latter by a traverse moves the
slide bar with it. The switch meanwhile remains in position. It can
be moved by hand by the lever if not done already by water 'pressure.
The water running back from the distant apparatus goes through the
valves. The whole apparatus is placed in a case of sheet iron about
four feet in height, being placed in the ground up to the cover. The cover
may be used and the weight bars drawn away, and all parts of the appa
=

page_text: a
ratus are readily accessible for repairing: The space below the guides is
filled with bar heat conductors for preventing the freezing, the cover can
also be lined with this material, and in case this should be insufficient
gas flame can be lighted in the upper part of the apparatus. The said
apparatus could not be relied on if the water continued its way through
the working apparatus without having moved the switch. This would
be the case if the lower packing of the plunger should be loose at the
same time as the slide or the valve should open simultaneously with the
slide so that, water could escape, then the switch rail would not be
allowed to meet the main rail. At the central point this would be seen
by the slow appearance of the central signal.
The apparatus can however be tried very easily to test its reliability.
The lever at the central point being handled as when a train enters the
station prevents the working of the first switch by placing a piece of
wood or iron between the switch rail and the line. If now the next.
switch works the apparatus is out of order, in the other case its security
is proved.
At the foot of the signal inserted in the ground is the working appa-
ratus. For giving the signal "practicable" a chain is pulled; this chain
passes sover rollers and is fastened on a cover. The pressure of water
coming in through a pipe raises a plunger with the roller by which the
chain is pulled. The plunger raises at the same time an accumulator,
when two hooks catch a bar.. These hooks are kept in a vertical position
by a weight. A disk is connected in such a manner to the chain, that
the lever is pressed down by it if the signal is in its right position. This
causes the hooks to be withdrawn from the notches in the bar so that
the latter can freely move up and down. By the striking of the disc the
chain and the plunger are arrested.
As herein-before remarked one accumulator has a greater pressure on
the square inch than the others. If it moved downward the control
accumulator at the central point is raised, and thereby the loss of water
occasioned by a bad packing or otherwise is compensated for till the
starting signal is drawn in. A weight connected with the latter draws
the chain back and presses the plunger downwards, whereby the first
state of rest is established. The space under the cover is filled with bar
heat conductors. The accumulator's weight is enveloped by a casing of
sheet iron so that its motion shall not be prevented by the packing.

page_text: To avoid concussions, which are very violent in the motion of water
free of air, gutta percha balls are inserted at all places where the water
receives an impulse. To clean the pipes a cock is placed at the signalling
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 23rd July 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," Southampton
Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, send greeting.
.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence that
I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my 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, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING RAILWAY SWITCHES," that it has
been communicated to me from abroad by Adolph Schnabel and
Theodor Henning, both of Bruchsal, Baden, Germany, upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
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 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 William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and a
'

page_text: by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings forming a part of this Specification:-
:
The apparatus shown in the Drawing Sheets 1, 2, and 3 is destined
to work the switches and signals in such a way that the safe traffic in
railway stations no longer depends upon the attention of the pointsmen.
It is understood that each train enters and leaves the station in a
prescribed manner. To obtain the desired purpose the apparatus has
the following construction :-The signals for the different trains are
connected in such a way that the starting signal can never be given
at the same time to two trains which are crossing each other. The
starting signal if all the switches which the train passes are in right
position shows only the word "practicable." The apparatus gives a
signal that it has been operated and that the switches are in the right
position. All switches are well secured or locked while the train passes,"
but can be worked by hand when the train has passed.
The apparatus
works with absolute security at a distance of 12,000 fect.
At the central point where all the lines can be easily overlooked
an accumulator is erected and provided with as many pipes as there
are trains to pass the station. The pipe for each train extends in an
opposite direction to the latter, and ends at the starting signal. At
this point and at each switch apparatus is erected as herein-after described.
The transmission of the power from the reservoir to the working
apparatus is effected by means of water freed from air. Each pipe
may be disconnected by means of a slide valve in the reservoir. By
opening the slide valve the switches and the signals are worked. In
the apparatus each train is represented by peculiar mechanism. This
mechanism works upon the draw bar of the switch. The switch
working apparatus is so arranged that the water cannot flow if the
switch rail does not meet the line (or main rail). In the signal
apparatus with the signal a small reservoir is raised, which when the
signal has reached its prescribed position descends. This small reservoir
causes a higher pressure per square inch than the main reservoir,
but the water does not flow back in the latter, because its passage
is stopped by a valve, this water rises within a third reservoir inserted
in the pipes at the central point, the pressure of the latter on.
the square inch is higher than that of the main reservoir, but much
lower than that of the signal reservoir. At the rising of the third
reservoir the workman or overlooker sees that the signals shows the

page_text: word "practicable" and that the line is open or clear for the train.
When the train has entered or left the station the pipes are discharged
by working the valve in the open air and the switch working; apparatus.
is returned to its first position by weights.
The apparatus at the central point is shewn in Sheet 1. The working:
apparatus for the different trains are arranged one at the side of the other.
By the common inlet pipe B the water is discharged from the reservoir,
whilst the outlet pipe F is discharged in the open air. The pipe E.
extends to the switch and to the signal. The valve C prevents the water
flowing back to the reservoir, whilst by the cock D the reservoir is
disconnected from the pipes for repairing. By working the hand.
lever the slide valve is pressed downward, and then the water is allowed
to flow into the pipe E whilst the outlet F is shut. With the control
accumulator G raised from the signal a signal disc is also raised (as
at the train) showing that the entrance signal stands at "practicable."
To make sure that two trains which may cross the way shall not give
the starting signal at the same time the slide valve bar works by a
projection a, c, upon a horizontal flat iron. The latter in its descent
catches in notches conveniently formed in that one of the slide valve
bars which shall be fixed, whereas the flat iron is not in connection
with the indifferent slide bars. By this arrangement cach slidė bar
can be fixed by means of the other. The wooden case serves to
prevent the freezing of the water, for this purpose all parts in contact.
with water are lined with felt.
•
The working apparatus for the switch table is shewn in Sheet 2.
This apparatus serves to work a switch by which passes four trains.
Each train is represented in the apparatus by an independent mechanism.
These arrangements of mechanism are all alike and have the following
construction:―The pipe E extending from the central point discharges
under a plunger H, which is raised by the pressure of the water
and moves the switch thereby. Being raised the water passes through
the openings s in the space K. in which the continuation of the pipe E
is shut by a slide. The water pressure tends to raise the slide bar
I and to open the slide in. K. This is only possible if the slide
bar I can pass through the horizontal bar L, L, the latter moves
with the switch and is fitted with holes being directly above the bars I
if the switch rail lics close to the main rail to this the case I rises,

page_text: locks the switch, and opens the valve K, and in consequence the
water can flow to the next switch or to the signal. If the plunger H
moves the switch in the direction L, L, it catches under the weight
bar N, N, and in the opposite case under M, M. The levers in con-
nection with N, 1, or M; M, form an arrangement like that of a weight.
N, N, may be considered to form the beam board supported in Q, Q¹.
O, R, the lever formed at an angle of 90° may be considered to be the
scale of the balance, and under O the fixed point below the beam board.
Then we have OP: QR=OP: QP; therefore it is equal at which
point the plunger H strikes the plane N, N, for raising the same. The
two levers P, Q, and R, O, are so arranged that the first in raising N, N,
brings the latter into the desired position, if that was not already the.
case. P, Q, can move downward without acting upon. O, R. The
levers R, O, and P, O, have no connection. with each other. The levers
connected with M, M, have the same qualities but work the switch
in the opposite direction. It may be observed that I may substitute
for this mechanism simple angle levers if less than four plungers arc
employed. The train having passed the switch, and the pipe E at the
central point being in connection with the discharging pipe F, the
bar N, N, or M, M, constructed as a counter weight presses the plunger H
downward, and this latter by the traverse S takes the bar I with it.
The switch remains meanwhile in its position. It can be moved by a
hand lever if not moved by water pressure. The entire apparatus is
placed.in a case of sheet iron about four feet high which is placed in the
ground up to the cover. By lifting the cover the weights M and N are
removed, and by withdrawing the piece T'all parts of the apparatus are
accessible for repairing or other purposes. The space below the guide T
is fitted with a bad heat conducting material for preventing the. freezing,
the cover can also be lined with such material, and in every case if
o this should be insufficient a gas flame can be lighted in the upper part
of the apparatus. Each apparatus is fitted with a floating valve W for
allowing the passage of the air which enters as the air accumulates and
the float rises out of the water. The hydrostatic raising is less until
the float falls down and opens the aperture for the discharge. The
5 water again raises the float, and this closes the valve again.
At the foot of the signal inserted in the ground is the working apparatus
represented in Sheet 3. For giving the signal "practicable" the chain a
wallows A and B and is factoned at h

page_text: on the cover C. The pressure of the water coming in through the
pipe E raises the plunger D with the roller B by which the chain a is
pulled. The plunger D raises at the same time the reservoir or accumu-
lator F, when the two hooks o, d, o, d, catch the bar F.
As we have
These hooks
are kept in a vertical position by the weight m. The disk a* is inserted
in such a manner in the chain that the lever o, n, is pressed down by
it if the signal is in its right position. By this means the hooks o, d o, d,
are withdrawn from the notches in the bar F so that the latter can
freely move up and down. By the striking of the disc a* the chain
and the plunger D have their further motion prevented.
remarked the accumulator F has a greater pressure on
inch than the two others. If it moves downward the control accu-
mulator at the central point is raised, and thereby the loss of water
which might arise from imperfect packing is compensated until the
starting signal is drawn in. A weight connected with the latter draws
the chain back and presses the plunger D downward, whereby the first
state of rest is re-established. The space under the cover C is filled
with bad heat conductors.
each square
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondents, I wish it understood that I claim,
the working of switches and signals by hydraulic power, from a central
point substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of July, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
. D. L. WAGNER.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)