US2611076A - Railroad switch - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 16, 1952 G. A. swAzEY RAILROAD swITcH 2 srmETsf-smam r1 Ill OIJIIIII s ll. l

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Filed June 19, 1950 lll .MII

I 'III IT INVENTOR L z'wazey BY Z 7 Z( Sc A'VTORNEYSv lll o l. Il'.

Sept. 16, 1952 G. A. swAzEY RAILROAD swITcH 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed June 19, 1950 INVENTOR` J Saa-are y .mlm

BY i ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 16, 1952 I,UNrrspsTATEs PATENT OFFICE d RAILROAD swrrcn George A. ASwazey, Milo, Maine Application June 519, 1950," seri-amc. leanitf` '1 Claim. .(Cl. E46-P446.)

-l This invention relates to railroad switches.

-An object of this invention is to provide an improved railroad switch which is so constructed as to eliminate any lpossibility of derailment and to provide switching rails which are substantially normal in size as to the headsthereof rather than being formed as points. l

Another object of this invention is to provide a railroad Vswitch structure adapted for interposing in a-main lineV and a-pair 'of oppositely extending sidings, the structure being so constructed both sidings' may loe-served from a single switch structure. Y

A 'further object -ofthis invention is to provide a switch structure of this 'kind which lis so roonstru'cted that 'it will 'not become vclogged or `inoperative-during snow or icy-weather.

With the*` above and .other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed yin the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

r In the-drawings:

.Figure 1 is a plan view `of a railroad switch structure constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 2?-2 of Figure l.

Fh'gure '3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 `is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure l.

Figure 5 is la fragmentary sectional view taken onthe line 5--5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line I-l of Figure 2.

. Referring to thedrawings, the numerals I ,and II designate a pair of main line rails, and vthe numerals I2 and I3 designate a pair vof siding rails. A second pair of side rails I4 are disposed oppositely from the siding rails I2 and I3 extending in the opposite direction from rails I2 and I3.

A r switch structure constructed according'to an embodiment of this invention is interposed 'in the main line rails It and II and in the siding rails I2, I3, and I4. The switch structure embodies a pair of base plates I which are each provided with a pair of upstanding and relatively thick webs I6 and I1. The web I6 is adapted to be normally disposed in alignment with the main line rail I0, and the web I1 is adapted to be normally disposed in alignmentl with siding rail I2 when the switch structure is disposed in a position to permit the Atrain and cars to move over thermain line. The web I1 is the Asiding web and is longitudinally curved.

` A relatively short straight rail section I8 is carried by the base I5 at one end thereof being in alignment with the main line rail I0, and a second relatively short fixed rail section -I Sir is disposedat the opposite end of the base I5 being also in alignment with vmain .line rail Il). A relatively short xed'rail member 2Q fis carried by the-base i5 in offset relation to rail-section I8 and is adapted to abut the adjacent end of the siding rail l2. A second side rail section 2l is disposed -at 'the opposite end-of the base I5 and i'sadaptedvto abut against the second siding 'rail- I 4.

The `two "base- Airl-embers I5 are yconnected to# gether in parallel relation by means of a plurality of spaced apart tie bars 22 which are secured at the opposite ends thereof to the basemembers I5 by fastening members 23. 'A .rail head carrier constructed in the formv of anelongated plate 24 slidably `engages over the pair of wide webs I6 and I1 which constitute guides for the plateor carrier Zfand the carrier 2li .has secured through a mainline rail head 25 and a siding rail head 26. The siding rail head 2S is longitudinally curved so that when the main line rail head25 is in alignment with the main line I0,;the siding rail head 26 .will be disposed in. abutting and aligning relation :with respect-to the siding yrail sections 2EI1'and'2rI. y I

The carrier plate 24 at one vend thereof is formed with an Vendwise projecting tongue vor pivot member 21, and the fixed railsection'si and 20 which are formedintegral with the guides it and` I'I are provided withslots 2.8 within which the carrier 2.4 slidably engages, the upper side of the-slotbeing. disposed .in substantial 'alignment with the'lovver side of the railheads of the fixed rail sectionsi 8 and 20, As shown in Figure k'7, the tongue or pivot .21 is rounded as indicated atf2la so that .thecarrier 24 may beswung clockwise as a indicated by arrow 21h, lfrom a position wherein the main rails areY in alignment and thesiding rails' are also in alignment, to a position .wherein the opposite ends ofthe siding rails will align withthe main rails, as shown in dotted lines in .Figure 1. The xed rails I9 and 2| also have s1ots29'in the' webs thereof within which the adjacent ends of the carriers 24 are adapted to slidably engage. The adjacent end of the rail section I8 has the head thereof cut on a bevel as indicated at 30, and the adjacent end of the rail head 25 is undercut as at 3l so as to be parallel with the bevel 30.

At the opposite end the head of the rail section I9 is cut on a bevel as indicated at 32, and the adjacent end of the rail head 25 is undercut as at 33 so as to be parallel With the bevel 32. The siding rail head 26 and the siding rail members 20 and 2| are undercut in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 2 with respect to the fixed rails I8 and I9, and the main rail head 25. The relatively thick webs I6 and I1 which form guides for the carrier 24 are extended at the opposite ends thereof to provide reinforcing vwebs 34 formed integral with the webs with the fixed rail sections I8, I9, 20, and 2|. The swinging ends of the carriers 24 are limited in one direction by means of stop members or lugs 35 which are carried by blocks 36 fixed in any suitable manner to the guides I1. I

The two carriers 24 are connected together at the ends thereof opposite from the pivot members 21 by means of a tie bar 31 which engages beneath the plates I5. The tie bar 31 has xed thereto a pair of upwardly offset lugs 31 formed with bases 38 secured by fastening means 39 to the tie bar 31.

A pivot member 40 extends through a tongue or lug k4I projecting from one edge of plate or carrier 24 and is secured in the lug 31. A second pair of lugs or stopmembers 42 are disposed oppositely from the lugs 31 being formed with bases 43 secured by fastening means 44 to the tie bar 31. The lugs 34 confront the guide members or `webs I6 and are adapted to abut against the web IS when carrier 24 is disposed in a position with the main line head 25 aligning with the main line rail I0. A pair of pins 45 are extended through the lugs 4I and are adapted upon swinging of the carrier 24 to a switching position to abut against the web or guide I1. A lug 46 is fixed to the web of each rail section 2I beneath the head thereof and projecting out- Wardly from the slot 46 so as to provide an additional bearing surface engageable with the adjacent end of the carrier 24. The carrier 24 has projecting from onevedge thereof a relatively long lug 41, and a stop member 48 is extended through the lug 41 for engagement with the guide I1 when the carrier is swung to a switching position. The lug` 41 is positioned intermediate the length of the carrier 24 so that this carrier will b'e-stop'pedin its swinging movement towards switching position by two or more stop members. In the use and operation of this switch structure the connected together base members I5 are interposed in the main line rails I and between the siding rails I2, I3, and I4. The tie bar 31 projects laterally from one of the base members I and is adapted to be connected to a suitable operator at one side of the rail structure. When the switch is disposed ina position as shown in full lines in Figure 1 the cars and enginel will move along the main line I0. Where it is desired to switch the cars and engine onto siding rails I2 and I3, as an example, the cars and engine are moved Vto the left as viewed in Figure 1, and when the last car has passed the ends of the rail heads 25 and 26, the carriers 24 may be shifted to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1.

'4 The cars and engine may then be moved to the right, and at this time the switching rail heads 26 will be disposed in alignment or abutting relation with respect to the fixed rail members I9.

The cars and engine will thereupon move over siding rail head 26 and onto siding rails I2 and I3. In the event it is desired to shift the cars to the oppositely disposed siding rails I4 the switch is shifted to its .main line position shown inffull lines in Figure 1, and the cars are then moved to the left. The cars will move over the `siding rail heads 26 which at this time are disposed in abutting and aligning position with respect to rail members 2I and I4.

A switch structure constructed according to an embodiment of this invention will eliminate the thin switch points at present in use which frequently cause derailments. Furthermore, in view of the fact that the carriers 24 are slidable on the guidewebs I6 and I1 in a horizontalposition, these carriers -will notvbe held against movement by accumulation of ice or the like so that the switch structure will be operative in a safe manner under all Weather conditions.

What is claimed is:

A railroad switch for interposing in a main rail line and between a pair of oppositely extending sidings comprising a pair of base members each formed of a base plate and a. pair of spaced apart upstandng webs fixed to said plate. a pair of stub rails extending from the ends of said webs and ilxed to said plate, one member of each pair of stub rails aligning with the main rail and the other member of said pair of stub rails aligning with an adjacent siding rail, a pair of carriers slidably engaging on the upper edges of said webs between said stub rails, a, pair of spaced substantially parallel rail heads fixed to each carrier, said rail heads in one position of said carriers aligning said stub rails, each stub rail having an outwardly projecting slot in the inner end thereof within which said carrier slidably engages, means pivotally mounting said carriers at one end thereof between adjacent pairs of stub rails, a carrier shifting member engaging beneath said base plate, and means pivotally securing said shifting member to said carriers at the ends thereof opposite from said pivot means.

GEORGE A. SWAZEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTs

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