IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILROAD SWITCHES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE of No 11 Wellington Street Strand, London in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agont do hereby declare the nature of my inven-
tiou for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILROAD SWITCHES (a communication from Edwin
Gordon, of Hyde Park, Massachusetts, in the United States of America, Gentleman),
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My Invention has for its object a Railroad Switch more effectual and safe than
any now in use with which I ain acquainted.
I accomplish the switching by means of a lateral motion imparted to the switch-
rails without moving the point rails; and to more effectually insure the safe passage
of trains on to a branch or siding, or in that direction along the main lino, ie,
towards, not off the point rails, I attach guards to the switch rails, and thus
prevent the wheel flanges from coming in dangerous contact with the ends of the
point rails.
In the drawings I have shown in Figure 1, a plan view of a switch embodying
my invention, adjusted for the safe passage of trains in either direction along the
main track, the position of the switch rails, being such as to prevent the wheel
Banges from coming in dangerous contact with the end of the point rail on one
side, while the guard rail equally protects the point on the opposite side. In
Figure 2, I show the switch adjusted for the passage of trains from the main track
to a siding; the conditions however as to the guarding of the end of the point rails
being the reverse of those shown in Figure 1; in Figure 3, a section of my switch
on the line X, X, and in Figuro 4, a section of the same on the line y, y.
A, A', are the switch rails.
B, B, are the point rails.
C, is a metal plate on which the switch rails and the point rails rest; but this
may be omitted in part, if desired. e, is a rod or bar by means of which the two
pairs of switch rails are held at the desired gange or distance apart, a, a, a¹ a¹,
are cast iron or steel blocks; r, raro guard rails; c care bolts which hold the
blocks, the guard rails r, r, and the connecting ends of the switch rails A, A¹ firmly
together.
•
The blocks a', a', are cut away slightly on the side next to the switch rail A', so
as to allow the ends of the rails A², A', to have the required lateral motion all the
other connecting parts fit closely.
The blocks serve to hold up the ends of the rails, so as to secure a smooth surface
on top.

page_text: The block between the guard rail r, and the switch rail ends is of such a thick-
ness as will hold the connecting guard rail r, at the desired distance, namely, about
one and five-eighths inches from the switch rail ends, so as to prevent the wheel
flanges from coming in dangerous contact with the end of the point rails, when
trains are passing towards tho points.
The switch rails are about half an inch higher than the point rails.
k, k, are pieces of iron half an inch thick, attached to the plate C, upon which
pieces the point rails rest and move.
The rod h, is enclosed in a case m, which is secured in position by means of the
clamps n, n, bolted to the tie beneath. The diameter of the rod at the middle of
its length is enlarged, forming a boss, s (Figure 3) which is nearly of the same
diameter as the inside diameter of the case.
On each side of the boss is a spiral spring p, p, (Figure 3) of equal power and
adjusted to fill the space, bearing against the head of the case at one end and the
other against the boss. This device will prevent lateral movement of the point
rails either to the right or to the left, except by a power sufficient to overcome the
resistance of the spring.
•
The point rails being thus held, trains may pass in any direction safely without
moving the points, the switch rails being moved laterally as before described.
But in case the switch rails are misplaced, either for the main line or for a branch
or siding train, it will be seen that the point rails in either case can be moved
laterally by the action of the wheel flanges, sufficiently to permit a train to pass,
and after passing, the point rails will at once resume their usual and true position,
by the action of the springs p, p.
Bracket pieces f, f, are fastened to the point rails near the point ends, and on
the brackets the ends of the rod h, rests in the slots o, o. The rod is of such a
length that the ends come in contact with the point rails and serve to hold them
at the desired distance apart; and its office is also to transmit motion from one
point to the other, so that both may be moved together, and to prevent the points
from moving up vertically.
This arrangement provides for the possible slight lengthwise movement of the
point rails, as in that case the brackets will slide in the slots o, o, without lateral
motion of the point ends.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. Two pairs of connected switch rails, each pair so connected with blocks
and a guard rail, as to permit of a lateral motion of the ends, the other ends being
fished to fixed rails, substantially for the purpose and by the means described.
Second. A pair of point rails, in combination with two pairs of switch rails, said
point rails being connected together by a spring rod acting in a metal case fastened
to the tie beneath, substantially for the purpose and by the meaus described.
Third. A pair of point rails connected together by a spring rod the ends of which
lie against the point rails, holding them at the proper distance apart, said rod
having a slot at each end in which a bracket attached to the point rail rests, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.
Fourth. The point rails B, B, the switch rails A, A', and the guards r, r, în com-
bination, substantially as and for the purpose above described.