US1681860A - Railroad switch - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 21, 1928.

E. J. KING RAILROAD SWITCH Filed April 25, 1927 v Tnvenbr, Eusfizcizizwcf Kill,

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M-Mm t WI/kn Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAILROAD SVVITGH.

Application filed April 25. 1927. Serial No. 186,541.

The. invention relates to railways, and more especially to the switch mechanisms thereof. An object of the invention is to construct a railway switch. wherein there is employed a single switch point, with means for actuating such single switch point to direct a vehicle either along the main line or into the side lines. 7

Another object is to produce an efficient strong and durable switch which may he economically constructed and operated.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear:

The views of the drawings are as follows:

Figure 1 is a plan of a section of railway track showing a switch installed therein constructed according to the preferred embodiment of my invention, the switch being set with the main line open;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section as seen from the line 22 of Fig. 1; and I Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the switch set to direct vehicles to or from the side line on to the main line.

Referring to the drawings, the railway track comprises the usual main line rails 5 andfi. The rails 5 are straight, while the rail 6 is curved, and with a rail 7 forms the inner end of a sideline track. The rails may be'mounted on ties 8 in the usual manner with guard ails 9 and 10 disposed in the manner shown at the junction between the main and side line tracks.

In the present instance, the end of the rail 7- is provided with a movable switch point 11. This switch point has an L-shaped portion 12, to wnieli is pivoted, as indicated at 13, one end of a horizontally disposed bar 14.

The har 14 is arranged beneath the rails and extends transversely of the track. Mounted on the bar 14 is a, collar 15, while encircling the bar is another collar 16. If so desired, the collar 16 may be in the form of a vertical flange that is disposed on the inner end of a plate 17.

The plate 17 has a slot 18 formed longitudinally therein, in which the bar 14 may be disposed, t 1e slot serving as means for guiding the bar, as will be readily understood.

Jetween the collars and 16, the bar 14 is encircled by an expansible spring 19.

The end of the bar 14 opposite to the pivot 18 has pivotally connected thereto, as indicated at 20, an operating arm 21.

The arm 21 is also disposed in the slot 18 of the plate 1'7, and near its outer end is provided with a depending v shaped lug 22.

The bottom of the slot 18 is terminated adjacent to the normal position of the lug so as to provide a step The step 23 is slightly undercut and the lug 22 is adapted to he latched thereagainst in the manner shown in Fig. 2. When the lug 22 is thus latched the switch point 11 will he set so as to permit a vehicle to pass along the main line track in either direction.

In order to permit the end of the arm 21 to be easily raised or lowered, a. loop 24 is formed in the end thereof adjacentto the lug 22.

The invention is, of course, susceptible to various modifications and adaptations.

In order to move the switch point or tongue 11 to a position to direct a vehicle onto the siding it is necessary to raise the arm 21 manually until the point of the undercut lug thereon is free of the undercut step or shoulder 23 on the plate 17, whereupon the spring 19 will. move the switch point 11 into contact with the rail 5 of the main line track, the pring 19 thereafter resiliently maintaining the 'tch point 11 in this position.

In standard railway construction the switch points of all sidings connecting with main line tracks point in the direction of trallic over the particular'main. lino track with which the siding is connected, thus the lange of one of the foremost wheels 01 train or vehicle moving in the direction indicated by the switch point 11 will pass between the said switch point '11 and the rail 5, moving the switch point transversely until the lug 22 on the arm 21 again lalls behind the undercut shoulder 23, which therea rigidly maintains the switch point 11 in this positi n and again permits movement of vehicle in both direclons along the main track.

Upon referring to Fig. 1, it will he n that the second rail of the main line track is not pro-videl with spring tongue, as is the usual practice, but is merely grooved to permit the passage of the flanges of vehicle wheels when the vehicles are passing from the maintraclr to the siding or vice versa.

The invention claimed is: i

1. In combination with a main t H a ,com- Ling pair of spaced substantially stra ht rails and a side track comp a pair of spaced curved rails extending substantially tangent to therailso'l' said main track, one of sa d side track curved Ill-llS being formed continuous with the corresponding ill) Lil

straight rail of the main track, the portion of said rail of said main track adjacent the curve being beveled and spaced from said curve to permitthe passage of the flanges of vehicle wheels moving around said curve, the second rail of said main track being sub stantially straight and unbroken throu out and the second rail oi said side track terminating in a spring switch tongue adapted to engage said unbrokenrail of the main track; a plate extending transversely of and located under said tracks, a flange on said plate, a rod connected at one end to said s ning tongue and extending through anopening in said flange, a collar secured to said rod between said spring tongue and said flange, a spring coiled around said rod bet-ween said collar and said flange for moving and resiliently maintaining said spring tongue in contact with said unbroken straight rail oi the main track, an arm pivoted to the opposite end of said rod, an undercut lug on said arm adapted to engage a correspondingly undercut shoulder on said plate, for positively holding the point of said opening switch tongue away "from the said unbroken straight rail of the main track when the flange of a wheel of a vehicle moving along the main track in the direction in which said switch tongue pointing, passes between said tongue and the adjacent unbroken straight rail of the main track for permitting subsequent passage of vehicles in both directions along said main track.

2. In combination with a main track comprising a pair of spaced substantially straight rails and a side track comprising a pair of spaced curved rails extending substantially tangent to the rails 01 said main track, one of said side track curved rails being formed continuous with the corresponding straight rail oi? the main track, the portion of said rail oi said main track adjacent the curve being beveled and spaced from said curve to permit the passage of the flanges of vehicle wheels moving around said curve, the second rail of said main track being substantially straight and unbroken throughout and the second rail of said side track terminating in a spring switch tongue adapted to engage said unbroken rail of the main trac r; aplate extending transversely of and located under said tracks, a flange on said plate, a rod connected at one end to said spring tongue and extending through an opening in said flange, a collar secured to said rod between said spring tongue and said flange, a spring coiled around said rod between said collar and said'flange for moving and resiliently maintaining said spring tongue in contact with said unbroken straight rail of the main track, an arm pivoted to the opposite end of said rod, an under cut lug on said arm adapted to engage a correspondingly undercut shoulder on said plate,

for positively holding the point of said open ing switch tongue away from the said unbroken straight rail of the main track when the flange of a wheel of a vehicle moving along the main track in the direction in which said switch tongue is j pointing, passes between said tongue and the adjacent unbroken straight rail of the main track for permitting subsequent passage of vehicles in both directions along said main track, and a hand grip on said arm whereby the arm may be moved relative to said plate, for disengaging said lug from said shoulder and thereby permitting said spring to reset said switch tongue.

3. In combination with a main track comprising a pair of spaced substantially straight rails and a side track comprising a pair of spaced curved rails extending substantially tangent to the rails of said main track, one of said side track curved rails being formed continuous with the corresponding straight rail of the main track, the portion of said rail of said main track adjacent the curve being beveled and spaced from said curve to permit the passage or the flanges of vehicle wheels moving around said curve, the second rail of said main track being substantially straight and unbroken throughout and the second rail of said side track terminating in a spring switch tongue adapted to engage said unbroken rail of the main track; a plate extending transversely of and located under said tracks, a flange on said plate, a rod connected at one end to said spring tongue and extending through an opening in said flange, a collar secured to said rod between said spring tongue and said flange, a spring coiled around said rod between said collar and said flange for moving and resiliently maintaining said spring tongue in contact with said unbroken straight rail of the main track, an arm pivoted to the opposite end of said rod, an undercut lug on said arm adapted to engage acorrespondingly undercut shoulder on said plate, for positively holding the point of said opening switch tongue away from the said unbroken straight rail of the main track when the flange of a wheel of a vehicle moving along the main track in the direction in which said switch tongue is pointing, )asses between said tongue and the adjacent unbroken straight rail of the main track for permitting subsequent passage of vehicles in both directions along said main track, and a hand grip on said arm whereby the arm may be moved relative to said plate, for disengaging said lug from said shoulder and thereby permitting said spring to reset said switch tongue, said plate having a groove in which said rod and said arm are located, said undercut shoulder being formed in the bottom of said groove.

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