US2993647A

US2993647A - Track constructions for monobeam type railways

Info

Publication number: US2993647A
Application number: US802788A
Authority: US
Inventors: Deller Konrad
Original assignee: Alweg Forschung Koln GmbH
Current assignee: Alweg Forschung Koln GmbH; Alweg-Forschung G M B H-Koln
Priority date: 1959-03-30
Filing date: 1959-03-30
Publication date: 1961-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 1978-07-25

Description

K. DELLER July 25, I961 TRACK CONSTRUCTIONS FOR MONOBEAM TYPE RAILWAYS Filed March 30, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 R m N E M BY W 2 ATTORNEY July 25, 1961 K. DELLER 2,993,647

TRACK CONSTRUCTIONS FOR MONOBEAM TYPE RAILWAYS Filed March 30, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1% 1 4 I 56 m I ,1

INVENTOR /%M?Ao Jame BY iMW M ATTORNEYS July 25, 1961 DELLER 2,993,647

TRACK CONSTRUCTIONS FOR MONOBEAM TYPE RAILWAYS Filed March 50, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 46M? flame BY I ATTORNEY5 United States Patent 2,993,647 TRACK CONSTRUCTIONS FOR MONOBEAM TYPE RAILWAYS Konrad Deller, Koln-Deutz, Germany, assignor to Alweg-Forschung G.m.b.H.-Koln, Koln, Germany, a

corporation of Germany Filed Mar. 30, 1959, Ser. No. 802,788 7 Claims. (Cl. 238-122) The present invention relates to track constructions and more particularly to switch constructions for railway systems of the monobeam type. In such systems the track comprises relatively heavy beam members which are preferably substantially rectangular and which have top and side running surfaces, the former supporting the load carrying vehicle wheels and the latter engaging upper and lower lateral vehicle wheels which guide the vehicle and transfer tilting forces to the beam. Preferably the track beam is made of reinforced concrete structure.

'Discontinuities occur at various points along the length of the monobeam tracks in such systems, i.e. at the spaces which must be provided between the ends of certain of the track sections to accommodate thermal expansion. Such discontinuities also appear at the ends of shiftable bridge sections and where movable switch sections join the fixed main track sections. These discontinuities have in the past produced gaps in the top and side running surfaces on the beams whichin turn impose lateral and vertical shocks on the vehicle passing over the track and reduce the speed at which the vehicles can travel safely and smoothly along the tracks.

It is the primary purpose and object of the present invention to provide improved track constructions particularly switch constructions for monobeam type railways I with novel means for bridging gaps and discontinuities in the track sections to permit the passage of vehicles along the tracks without lateral or vertical shocks.

It is also an important object of the present invention to provide improved switch constructions incorporating means for bridging the gaps at the ends of the movable switch tongues without impeding lateral movement of the switch tongue.

In attaining these objects and other objects, the invention contemplates the provision of novel track constructions in which the ends of the tracks are provided with finger plates having fingers of trapezoidal cross-section, the upper surfaces of both finger plates normally being flush with the upper surface of the track and one finger plate being arranged for vertical swinging movement about the horizontal axis to clear the other fingers to permit relative lateral movement of the track sections.

In accordance with the present invention novel means are provided for operating the vertically swingable finger plate so that it is automatically moved out of interfering relation with a mating part to permit the lateral swinging movement of a switch tongue on which it is installed and to restore it automatically to its flush position at the completion of the swinging movement of the switch tongue.

The gaps in the side surfaces of the track preferably are bridged by intermeshing finger plates which are rigidly secured to the respective ends of the switch tongue and the adjacent track beam and are formed in such a manner that during operation of the switch tongue the fingers of the finger plates pass freely through the space between the fingers of the corresponding members on the end of the adjacent track section.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a por- CG I tion of a monobeam switch constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the ends of the main line track beam and the branch line and a portion of the movable switch tongue;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the structure shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse section taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a section similar to FIGURE 4 illustrating a modified construction;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary transverse section taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a section similar to FIGURE 6 but showing the parts in relatively shifted position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and especially to FIGURE 1, the portion of the switch thereshown comprises a substantially rectangular main track beam 10 and a similar rectangular branch track beam 12 which are alternately connectable to a third main track section (not shown) by a laterally movable switch beam tongue 14. The switch tongue per se and its drive mechanism do not form a part of this invention and may be of a construction as disclosed in copending application Serial No. 569,855, now Patent No. 2,903,972 dated Sept. 15, 1959, or 751,653 to which reference may be had for details of construction. Between the abutting ends of the switch tongue 14 and the track beams 10 and 12, a small gap 16 is provided to accommodate thermal expansion and to avoid jamming of the switch tongue during operation. The top running surface 18 of the track beams 10 and 12 and the switch tongue 14 is bridged at the gap 16 by intermeshing

finger plates

24 and 26. Finger plate 24' is rigidly secured to the beam 10 as shown in detail in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 and the finger plate 26 is connected to the switch tongue 14 as shown in detail in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. The end of the branch line 12' carries a finger plate 25 corresponding to finger plate 24 for the beam 10. V

The side running

surfaces

20 and 22 of the beam sections are also bridged by

corresponding finger plates

28 and 30 rigidly secured to opposite sides of the beam 10 and by similar finger plates secured to the opposite sides of the beam 12. Intermeshing

finger plates

32 and 34, rigidly secured to the sides of the end of the switch tongue 14, complete the bridging construction. The fingers of all of the side finger plates are rectangular in cross-section to permit their free relative horizontal movement.

Referring now especially to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, the finger plate 24 is secured by screws 42 to an angular support plate 40 embedded in the end of beam 10. Finger plate 26 is secured to a support plate 44 rigid with the end of switch tongue 44 by means of a hinge joint 46 which permits movement of the finger plate 26 about a transverse horizontal axis.

As best shown in FIGURE 3, the lateral edges 53 of the fingers 50 on the finger plate 24 and the lateral edges 54 of the fingers 52 on the finger plate 26 are inclined. The inclination of the lateral edges of the respective fingers is sufiicient so that when the switch tongue carrying the finger plate 26 is moved laterally with respect to the beam 10, the fingers 52 will be carnmed upwardly and will smoothly and freely leave the recesses between the fingers 50. To reduce wear the inclined side surfaces 53 and 54 of the fingers are preferably hardened. When the switch tongue is moved laterally the width of one finger, the fingers of the plate 26 again fall freely between the fingers of the plate 24. This return movement is assisted by a tension spring 58 acting at the lower end of a lever 60 rigidly connected to the hinged end of the finger plate 26. A strip 56 and an abutment 62 hold aoaaew the finger plate 26 in a substantially horizontal position when, during the operation of the switch, it is in a positron between the beams and 12. When the switch tongue approaches the beam 12, the inclined side surfaces 54 of the fingers 52 of the plate 26 engage the corresponding inclined surfaces of the fingers of plate 25 to cam the former smoothly upwardly in the manner described above. It is to be noted that the spring also normally holds the finger plate 26 against the stop 56 to prevent inadvertent lifting of the finger plate 26.

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, to which detailed reference will now be made, disclose a slightly modified form of the invention. In this

construction control cams

64 and 65 are formed integrally with the finger plate 26 and project downwardly therefrom adjacent the opposite edges of the finger plate. Guide ledges 66 are supported on consoles 68 rigidly secured to the end of the beams 10 and 12, respectively, beneath the

cams

64 and 65. The lateral surfaces of the control cam 64 and the guide ledge 66 are inclined in the same manner as the side surfaces of the

fingers

50 and 52. Accordingly, when the switch tongue 14 is moved laterally with respect to the beams 10 or 12, the finger plate is cammed upwardly by the action of the

cams

64 or 65 and the inclined edges of the

fingers

50 and 52 and is held in the raised position shown in FIGURE 7 until the

trailing cam

64 or 65 moves off the opposite end of the ledge 66. Thus the fingers of the plate 26 are prevented from falling into the gaps between the fingers of the

finger plates

24 or 25 during lateral movement of the switch tongue 14.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for bridging the gap between adjacent ends of first and second monobeam track sections having top and side running surfaces comprising means providing a first set of fingers projecting from the top running surface at one end of said first track section toward the top running surface of the adjacent end of said second track section, means providing a second set of fingers projecting from the top running surface at the end of said second beam toward the top running surface at the adjacent end of said first beam, said second set of fingers being mounted for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, said first and second fingers being meshed when said track sections are aligned to form continuations of said top running surfaces, and means for camming said second set of fingers out of the plane of said first set of fingers upon relative lateral movement of said track sections.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said last- 4 mentioned means includes camming surfaces formed on each of said fingers.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said lastmentioned means includes a cam rigid with one end of said first beam and cam followers rigid with said second set of fingers.

4. Apparatus for bridging the gap between adjacent ends of a fixed monobeam track section and a switch tongue track section laterally movable with respect to said fixed track section comprising, said track sections having top and side running surfaces, a first finger plate substantially flush with said top running surface of said fixed track section and having fingers projecting toward the adjacent end of said switch tongue track section, a second finger plate substantially flush with said toprunning surface of said switch tongue track section and having fingers projecting toward the adjacent end of said fixed track section, means mounting one of said finger plates for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis, and means for automatically swinging said one of said finger plates about its pivotal axis upon relative lateral shifting movement of said switch tongue track section with respect to said fixed track section.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said fingers are substantially trapezoidal in cross-section and said last mentioned means comprises the inclined side surfaces of said fingers.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said lastmentioned means includes cam followers rigid with the pivotally mounted finger plate and a cooperating cam rigid with said fixed track section.

7. Apparatus for bridging the gap between the adjacent ends of a fixed monobeam track section and a movable switch tongue track section, said track sections being of substantially rectangular section and having top and side running surfaces comprising a first finger plate flush with the top surface of said fixed track section and having fingers projecting toward the adjacent end of said switch tongue track section, a second finger plate carried by said switch tongue track section and having fingers projecting toward the adjacent end of said fixed track section, means mounting said second finger plate on said switch tongue section for pivotal swinging movement about a substantially horizontal axis, means for camming said second finger plate out of the plane of said first finger plate upon relative lateral shifting movement of said switch tongue track section with respect to said fixed track section, and additional sets of intermeshing fingers mounted on the respective side surfaces of said fixed track section and said switch tongue section and substantially flush with the side running surfaces thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 848,681 Newton Apr. 2, 1907 981,273 Jacobs Jan. 10, 1911 1,471,490 Krump Oct. 23, 1923 2,903,972 Schutze Sept. 15, 1959