GB159949A - Improvements relating to the temporary conversion of the gauge of a rail or like vehicle to wider or smaller gauge, and the reconversion thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

159,949. Girdlestone, H. E., and Mathews, C. B. Dec. 1, 1919. Gauge of wheels, changing. -- In temporarily changing the gauge of wheels of a railway vehicle by supporting the fixed axles of the vehicles on wheeled carriers having a narrower or wider gauge than that already on the vehicle, means are provided to bring the carriers from a siding to a cross traverser substantially at ground level, along which they are moved to the main track and then on to lifts which are sunk to allow the vehicle to pass over the carrier and then raised to enable the bearings on the carrier to engage with the fixed axles of the vehicles. At each converting station rails a, b are laid along a common centre line, the narrow gauge rails being slightly higher than the broad gauge in the vicinity of the lifts c, c, and further away the rails b slope down relatively to c. The carriers e say of gauge a are stored on sidings f and when required are moved on to traversers g and carried across tracks h to the main tracks a, b. The carrier is then transferred from the traverser to the rails a and moved along to the lift c, which is lowered, rails being provided on the top of the carrier to bridge the gap in the main track. Two sets of lifts are thus loaded and the vehicle brought over them, the lifts are then raised enabling the axles of the vehicle to engage with the bearings on the carriers. One or more additional lifts d mav be provided for vehicles which vary in length of wheel base.