Improved Switches for Permanent Way and for Conductors on Electric Railways.
Year: 1899

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Switches for Permanent Way and for Conductors on
Electric Railways.
I, HERMANN OTTO JOEDICKE, of 47, Friedrichstrasse, Mühlhausen, in
Thueringen, Germany, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
.
The present invention concerns a switch-point arrangement for railways for
wheels with "U" shaped periphery, for the purpose of guiding the vehicles or
their wheels (and in the case of electric railways the contact rollers) from one
rail track to the other, in either direction, with safety.
In the annexed drawing Figs. 1 to 7 show, by way of illustration, one form
of execution of such a switch-point arrangement, Fig. 1 being a plan and Fig. 2
an elevation.
Figs. 3 to 7 are details.
The arrangement in action of the new switch-point arrangement is as
follows:
The two switch-tongues 5 and 6 establish communication between the
tracks 1, 2, and 3, the ends of which are fixed on a bed plate 4. The switch
tongue 5 is pivoted at 5" and kept by a spring 7 in the position shown in Fig. 1.
The switch-tongue 6 has two pivoting points 6" and band is likewise held in
position by springs 8 and 9. (Instead of springs, switch levers may be
employed). If, for instance, a car or its wheels or contact roller are to be
guided from track 1, to track 3, the wheels or roller will run over 5 to 3, and
at 6b will force aside, in the direction of arrow I, the end of the switch-tongue 6
which is in the way. After the wheel has passed, tongue 6 is brought back
to its original position by the spring S or by the switch lever.
If wheel is to pass from 3 to 1 it will run over 5 to 1, forcing 6 in the
direction of arrow II against 5. After wheel has passed, 6 is brought back
again to its original position by the spring 9 or the switch lever.
If wheel is to pass from 2 to 3 it will travel over 6 to forcing aside, at 5b
in the direction of arrow III, the end of tongue 5 which is in its way, whereupon,
after wheel has passed, the switch-tongue 5 will be brought back to its original
position by the spring 7 or the switch lever. In order to preclude any possi-
bility of derailing, a strengthened part (or boss) 10 is provided, laterally, outside
the guiding part.
If the wheel is to pass from 3 to 2, 5 is shifted aside at 5b by means of the
switch lever connection 11, (Fig. 7) in the direction of arrow IV, away from 6,
whereupon the wheel can run over 6 to 2. After the wheel has passed, 5 is
shifted back again to its original position.
In these four movements the wheels are guided with their edges ¹ and ³, in
grooved rails 12, so that they are secured against any deviation to either side
while passing over the switch-tongues (Fig. 5).

page_text: The switch-points 5 and 6 have rails 13 passing underneath them, Figs. 1,
3, and 4.
The switch-point arrangement just described may be used for all kinds of
railways, for wheels (or in the case of electric railways, contact rollers) having
"U" shaped peripheries, as well as for tracks on which the wheels run on grooved
rails with double groove.
Figs. 8, 9, and 10 show the switch-arrangement just described, as applied
to an aerial switch for electric railways fed by an overhead conductor.
Fig. 8 showing such an aerial switch as, seen from below.
Fig. 9 being a cross section of same, on the line A-B, and
Fig. 10 being a longitudinal section on the line C-D.
In order to ensure a safe transit of the contact roller or trolley, guide
plates 14 are arranged at the sides of the switch-tongues 5 and 6 or at the sides
of the cable ends 1, 2, and 3.
These guide-plates 14 are provided with longitudinal slots 15, enlarged at
the ends, and in which the bearing pin y¹ of the contact roller y is guided during
its passage over the switch-point.
In order to ensure ready entering and issuing of the bearing pin y or its
exposed ends, into and from the longitudinal slots 15 the guide plates 14 are
curved towards the outside at their ends 16.
In order to prevent the roller y, when passing the end 5 of the switch tongue,
from running off in the direction of arrow III, Fig. 8 a grooved rail 17 is pro-
vided at the side of the tongue 5 and the cable end 3, in which the outer flange
or projecting rim of roller y will lodge, Figs. 8 and 9.
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:-
1. A switch-point arrangement for railway tracks for wheels or rollers with
and 6,
"U" shaped peripheries, characterised by two movable switch tongues
establishing the connection between the track ends 1, 2, and 3, the switch-
tongue being movable, laterally, at both ends, substantially as herein described
and illustrated by the appended drawings.
2. In the switch-point arrangement claimed under 1, if carried out in the
form of an aerial switch, the arrangement of guide-plates 14 with longitudinal
slots 15, enlarged at the ends for securely guiding the contact roller y, which
guide-plates 14 are turned towards the outside at their ends 16, in order to
facilitate ready entering and leaving of the contact roller pin y', substantially
as herein described and illustrated by the appended drawings.
3. In the switch-point arrangement claimed under 1, if carried out in the
form of an aerial switch, the arrangement of a grooved rail 17, by the side of the
switch-tongue end 5b and cable end 3, in the groove of which rail 17 the outer
rim of the contact roller y will lodge, for the purpose of preventing a lateral
deviation, or running-off of the roller y, when passing the switch-tongue end 5b,
substantially as herein described and illustrated by the appended drawings..
Dated this 21st day of November 1899.
J. E. EVANS-JACKSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.